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

The warm flavors of star anise, anise seed, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger flavor these simple skewers served with peanut sauce. — Jasmine Thompson, Midwest Living, 25 July 2026

Many gardeners like to grow their ginger in large-diameter containers that can be moved about as needed. — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026

Ale-8-One Winchester, Kentucky Inspired by European ginger beers, the soft drink inventor George Lee Wainscott created this ginger-citrus soda. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 23 July 2026

Bobis reviewed the sparkling apple ginger sour cherry mocktail and called it a fit for fall festivities and Sober October. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 22, Kansas City Star, 22 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