hemp

noun

ˈhemp 

1

a

: a tall widely cultivated Asian herb (Cannabis sativa of the family Cannabaceae, the hemp family) that is cultivated for its tough bast fiber and edible seeds and oil and that is often separated into a tall loosely branched species (C. sativa) and a low-growing densely branched species (C. indica)

Note: Cultivated hemp is often distinguished from cannabis by possessing very low levels of the psychoactive substance THC.

b

: the fiber of hemp

… hemp can produce superb paper and construction materials lighter and stronger than lumber.

—Ted Williams

—often used before another noun

hemp rope

a hemp shirt

c

: marijuana

also : hashish

2

: a fiber (such as jute) from a plant other than the true hemp

also : a plant yielding such fiber

Examples of hemp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bamboo Or Hemp Bags For reusable grocery bags made from bamboo or hemp, the ACI recommends machine washing these on a gentle cycle using mild laundry detergent. —Molly Burford, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026

Tax consumable hemp products at 15% of retail costs. —Marissa Payne, Des Moines Register, 5 Feb. 2026

While demand for soft and authentic fabrics remains strong—Sharabati achieves both through fiber blends such as Tencel, Egyptian cotton and hemp—Erik said there is a shift in aesthetics. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 4 Feb. 2026

Rowland, another Bay Area tech entrepreneur in the legal weed business, was Atre’s trading partner, competitor, and coinvestor in a second cannabis venture that Atre was pursu-ing, this one involving the extraction of CBD from tremendous quantities of hemp. —Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hænep; akin to Old High German hanaf hemp, Greek kannabis

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing hemp

• bowstring hemp
• hemp nettle
• Indian hemp
• Manila hemp
• sann hemp
• sunn hemp

Rhymes for hemp

• kemp
• temp

Kids Definition

hemp

noun

ˈhemp 

1

: a tall Asian herb widely grown for its tough woody fiber that is used to make rope and for its flowers and leaves from which are obtained various drugs (as hashish and marijuana) that affect the mind or behavior

2

: the fiber of hemp

Medical Definition

hemp

noun

ˈhemp 

1

: a tall widely cultivated Asian herb of the genus Cannabis (C. sativa) that is cultivated for its strong woody fiber and edible seeds and oil and that is often separated into a tall loosely branched species (C. sativa) and a low-growing densely branched species (C. indica)

Note: Cultivated hemp is often distinguished from cannabis by possessing very low levels of the psychoactive substance THC.

2

: the fiber of hemp

3

: marijuana sense 1

also : hashish