juniper

noun

ju·​ni·​per ˈjü-nə-pər 

1

a

: any of numerous shrubs or trees (genus Juniperus) of the cypress family with leaves resembling needles or scales and female cones usually resembling berries

b

: the berrylike cone or fruit of a juniper

especially : the bluish one of a common juniper (J. communis) which is used to flavor foods and from which is obtained an acrid essential oil used especially as a flavoring in gin and liqueurs

called also juniper berry

2

: any of several coniferous trees resembling true junipers

Examples of juniper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To plant one of the ANT nodes, Trevor Katz told me while walking up a slope scattered with juniper trees, does not require much. —Lauren Steele, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026

Blue Arrow Juniper To add a touch of silvery blue to your landscape, add several blue arrow junipers. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026

There are also juniper cultivars, such as Iowa, that are resistant to juniper tip blight, as well as lilacs such as Charles Joly and Old Glory that have good resistance to powdery mildew. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026

Those with a good nose will be able to separate out the perfume’s layers of vanilla, palo santo, praline, and juniper berry. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English junipere, from Latin juniperus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing juniper

• juniper tar

Kids Definition

juniper

noun

ju·​ni·​per ˈjü-nə-pər 

1

a

: any of numerous evergreen shrubs and trees that are related to the pines but produce female cones resembling berries

b

: the berrylike cone or fruit of a juniper

2

: any of various evergreen trees resembling true junipers

Medical Definition

juniper

noun

ju·​ni·​per ˈjü-nə-pər 

: an evergreen shrub or tree (genus Juniperus) of the cypress family (Cupressaceae)

especially : one having a prostrate or shrubby habit (as Juniperus communis)