herb

1 of 2

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

herby

2 of 2

adjective

ˈ(h)ərbē 

-er/-est

1

: abounding in herbaceous vegetation

2

: relating to, resembling, or tasting like an herb

a rich herby flavor

Examples of herb in a Sentence

Noun

a dish seasoned with chopped fresh herbs

rosemary, sage, and other herbs

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Odysseus blinds the Cyclops and escapes Circe with the help of a magic herb, but not before losing some of his men. — John Blake, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

The importance of this particular herb and this particular salt. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026

Rub herb mixture on the underside of chicken and under the skin. — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Aug. 2026

Natural river stones are heated and submerged into the bath to release health-enhancing minerals in combination with the local Khempa herb, which infuses the water with its healing properties. — Rana Good, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Adjective

herb + y

First Known Use

Noun

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