celery

noun

cel·​ery ˈse-lə-rē 

ˈsel-rē

plural celeries

: a European herb (Apium graveolens) of the carrot family

specifically : one of a cultivated variety (A. graveolens var. dulce) with leafstalks eaten raw or cooked

Examples of celery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Add celery and mushrooms, and cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes. —Elizabeth Passarella, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026

Cook 3 medium onions, chopped, 3 medium carrots, peeled, chopped, and 2 celery stalks, chopped, in same pot over medium-high heat, stirring often, until onions are browned, about 5 minutes. —Jenny Rosenstrach, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026

Because my children aren’t going to be satisfied with a celery stick and a handful of raisins between a long school day and a night of swimming, tennis, or dance class. —Melissa Willets, Parents, 2 Apr. 2026

Add the relish, jalapeños, mustard, parsley, onion, celery and paprika, mixing lightly. —Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French céleri (17th-century celeris, sceleri, Middle French scellerin), borrowed from an Upper Italian form (as Ligurian sèlarʼu, Lombard sèleri), altered from Vulgar Latin *selinum (Late Latin selīnon), borrowed from Greek sélīnon, perhaps from a pre-Greek substratal language

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing celery

• celery cabbage
• celery root
• wild celery

Kids Definition

celery

noun

cel·​ery ˈsel-(ə-)rē 

plural celeries

: a European herb related to the carrot and widely grown for the thick edible stems

also : the stems of celery used for food