Illustration of elderberry
elderberry
noun
el·der·ber·ry
ˈel-dər-ˌber-ē 
ˈel-də-,
-ˌbe-rē
1
: the edible black or red berrylike drupe of any of a genus (Sambucus) of shrubs or trees of the honeysuckle family bearing flat clusters of small white or pink flowers
2
: a tree or shrub bearing elderberries
Examples of elderberry in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In fact, elderberries have more anthocyanin—a type of polyphenol antioxidant—than blackberries and blueberries.
—
Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2025
But the elderberry itself is an incredible immunity buster.
—Peter Burke, Fox News, 21 Jan. 2025
Where her grandfather’s grapevines and orange trees once flourished, tomatoes, wheat and beans now thrive, tended by Hawkins and her 4-year-old son Zayne, who delights in stuffing his mouth with strawberries and elderberries until his face is stained magenta.
—Brendan Fitzgerald, Longreads, 1 July 2025
Massimo gets beef tenderloin and elderberries; Shuai, short ribs and black currants; Bailey, beef cheek and Saskatoon berry; Lana, New York striploin and haskap berry; César, rib eye and chokeberry; and Tristen, flat iron and gooseberry.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for elderberry
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Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2025
But the elderberry itself is an incredible immunity buster.
—Peter Burke, Fox News, 21 Jan. 2025
Where her grandfather’s grapevines and orange trees once flourished, tomatoes, wheat and beans now thrive, tended by Hawkins and her 4-year-old son Zayne, who delights in stuffing his mouth with strawberries and elderberries until his face is stained magenta.
—Brendan Fitzgerald, Longreads, 1 July 2025
Massimo gets beef tenderloin and elderberries; Shuai, short ribs and black currants; Bailey, beef cheek and Saskatoon berry; Lana, New York striploin and haskap berry; César, rib eye and chokeberry; and Tristen, flat iron and gooseberry.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for elderberry
Cite this Entry
“Elderberry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elderberry. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
elderberry
noun
el·der·ber·ry
ˈel-də(r)-ˌber-ē
1
: the edible black or red fruit of any of a genus of shrubs or trees of the same family as the honeysuckles that produce flat clusters of small white or pink flowers
2
: any tree or shrub that produces elderberries
Medical Definition
elderberry
noun
el·der·ber·ry
ˈel-də(r)-ˌber-ē
plural elderberries
1
: the edible black or red berrylike drupe of a tree or shrub of the genus Sambucus that is eaten raw or processed into preserves or wines
2
: any tree or shrub of the genus Sambucus including several whose flowers or fruits were once considered to have medicinal properties see bourtree, sambucus sense 2
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