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

Try cabbage with any of the many plants that repel cabbage worms, including alliums and celery. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2026

Simmer it with water, an onion, a couple of carrots and some celery for 45 minutes to an hour. —Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026

Mix shredded chicken with mayo or Greek yogurt, diced celery, salt and pepper. —Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026

Thursday, April 23, Beef Stew with carrots, potatoes, onions and celery, whole grain roll, tropical fruit, milk. —Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 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