jasmine

noun

jas·​mine ˈjaz-mən How to pronounce jasmine (audio)
variants or less commonly jessamine
ˈje-smən
ˈje-sə-mən How to pronounce jasmine (audio)
1
a
: any of numerous often climbing shrubs (genus Jasminum) of the olive family that usually have extremely fragrant flowers
especially : a tall-climbing semievergreen Asian shrub (J. officinale) with fragrant white flowers from which oil is extracted for use in perfumes
b
: any of numerous plants having sweet-scented flowers
especially : yellow jessamine
2
: a light yellow

Illustration of jasmine

Illustration of jasmine
  • jasmine 1a

Examples of jasmine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lundberg Family Farms is voluntarily recalling select bags of its jasmine white rice sold at grocery stores nationwide, including Wegmans. Jenna Anderson, Health, 10 Apr. 2026 Also known as Italian jasmine, the climber’s sunshine-yellow flowers stand boldly against its green leaves. Claudia Guthrie, The Spruce, 9 Apr. 2026 Non-meat items include sweet pineapple, kimchi, cheesy corn, jasmine rice, a veggie platter and macaroni salad. Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026 The fresh, feminine, and energizing fragrance smells like spring in a bottle with top notes of neroli, yuzu, orange blossom, and jasmine. Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for jasmine

Word History

Etymology

Middle French jasmin, from Arabic yāsamīn, from Persian

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of jasmine was in 1562

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jasmine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jasmine. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

jasmine

noun
jas·​mine ˈjaz-mən How to pronounce jasmine (audio)
variants or jessamine
ˈjes-(ə-)mən
: any of numerous often climbing shrubs that are related to the olive and have extremely fragrant flowers
also : any of various plants noted for sweet-scented flowers

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