herb

noun

ˈərb 

US also and British usually

ˈhərb 

often attributive

1

botany : a seed-producing annual, biennial, or perennial that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities

planted parsley, basil, and rosemary in her herb garden

3

slang : marijuana sense 2

herblike

ˈ(h)ərb-ˌlīk 

adjective

herby

ˈ(h)ər-bē 

adjective

Examples of herb in a Sentence

a dish seasoned with chopped fresh herbs

rosemary, sage, and other herbs

Recent Examples on the Web

Santoku knives are great for a large variety of tasks, and are often prized for their daily use for things like slicing cheese, cutting an apple, breaking down an onion, or chopping herbs. — Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026

Lamb, mojitos, and watermelon salad can all be improved by the addition of a bit of fresh mint, which is why so many home gardeners like to add this aromatic herb to their gardens. — Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 14 Sep. 2026

To have frozen smoothie cubes ready to go, blend watermelon rinds with berries and fresh herbs, and freeze the mixture in ice cube trays. — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 10 Sep. 2026

Farm fresh tomatoes are always on peak summer menus — think panzanella and Caprese salads where the tomato needs little more than fresh herbs and olive oil to shine. — Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English herbe, from Anglo-French, from Latin herba

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing herb

• herb doctor
• herb Robert
• willow herb

Rhymes for herb

• blurb
• curb
• erb
• kerb
• serb
• verb
• disturb
• perturb
• reverb
• superb

Kids Definition

herb

noun

ˈərb 

also

ˈhərb 

1

: a seed-producing plant that does not develop long-lived woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part used for making medicine and seasonings

Medical Definition

herb

noun

ˈ(h)ərb 

often attributive

1

: a seed plant that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities