ginger

1 of 2

noun

gin·​ger ˈjin-jər 

1

a(1)

: a thickened pungent aromatic rhizome that is used as a spice and sometimes medicinally

(2)

: the spice usually prepared by drying and grinding ginger

b

: any of a genus (Zingiber of the family Zingiberaceae, the ginger family) of herbs with pungent aromatic rhizomes

especially : a widely cultivated tropical herb (Z. officinale) that supplies most commercial ginger compare wild ginger

2

: pep

… the ginger to … work hard.

—Willa Cather

3

a

: a light reddish or reddish-brown color

ginger hair

b

chiefly British, sometimes offensive : a person with red hair : redhead sense 1

The Breda Redhead Days festival—which grew out of a photo shoot by Dutch artist Bart Rouwenhorst—now attracts five or six thousand gingers from around the world.

—Bruce Ingram

gingery

ˈjin-jə-rē 

ˈjinj-

adjective

ginger

2 of 2

verb

gingered; gingering ˈjin-jə-riŋ 

ˈjinj-

transitive verb

: to make lively : pep up

… ginger up the tourist trade.

—Paul Showers

Synonyms of ginger

Noun

• energy
• vigor
• juice
• vinegar
• gas
• beans
• life
• starch

Verb

• stimulate
• jazz (up)
• zip (up)
• amp (up)

Examples of ginger in a Sentence

Noun

The recipe calls for a teaspoon of ginger.

a 60-year-old with the ginger to consider skydiving lessons

Verb

find some human-interest anecdotes that will ginger up this news article on the recent downturn in the economy

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On the lighter side, steamed Chilean sea bass is subtle and festooned with hot pepper slices in a ginger-vinegar broth. — Connie Ogle july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

Nonalcoholic drinks are given as much care as the spirited cocktails; try the lemon-lavender-ginger Root Chakra for a sophisticated alternative. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 July 2026

Beyond different physical traits, the two men are wearing the same dusty jeans and T-shirt combo—though Blackfoot Tom’s beard is a baby sprout compared to the long ginger duster Montana is sporting. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 30 July 2026

The kid picked on at school for his freckles and ginger hair. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, alteration of Old English gingifer, from Medieval Latin gingiber, alteration of Latin zingiber, from Greek zingiberi, of Indo-Aryan origin; akin to Pali siṅgivēra ginger

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1844, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ginger

• ginger ale
• ginger beer
• ginger group
• ginger nut
• ginger up
• wild ginger

Rhymes for ginger

• injure
• impinger
• infringer

Kids Definition

ginger

noun

gin·​ger

ˈjin-jər

1

a

: a thick underground plant stem that is used especially to make a spice

b

: a spice prepared by drying and grinding ginger

2

: any of a genus of Old World herbs that have thick underground stems and include one supplying most of the ginger used as a spice

3

: high spirit : pep

gingery

ˈjinj-(ə-)rē

adjective

Medical Definition

ginger

noun

gin·​ger ˈjin-jər 

1

a

: a thickened pungent aromatic rhizome that is used as a spice and sometimes in medicine

b

: the spice usually prepared by drying and grinding ginger

2

: any of a genus (Zingiber of the family Zingiberaceae, the ginger family) of herbs with pungent aromatic rhizomes

especially : a widely cultivated tropical herb (Z. officinale) that supplies most of the ginger of commerce