bugbane

noun

bug·​bane ˈbəg-ˌbān How to pronounce bugbane (audio)
: any of several perennial herbs (genus Cimicifuga) of the buttercup family native to northern temperate woodlands
especially : black cohosh sense 1

Note: Bugbanes are sometimes classified in a closely related genus (Actaea).

Examples of bugbane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Their names were homespun: sweet pepperbush, oak leaf hydrangea, Virginia sweetspire, New Jersey tea, even bugbane. Perdita Buchan, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bugbane.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bugbane was in 1723

Dictionary Entries Near bugbane

Cite this Entry

“Bugbane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bugbane. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

bugbane

noun
bug·​bane ˈbəg-ˌbān How to pronounce bugbane (audio)
: a plant of the genus Cimicifuga
especially : black cohosh

More from Merriam-Webster on bugbane

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!