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

When food is scarce, Edge said deer turn to berries from evergreen species like juniper. —Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 27 Oct. 2025

The dry gin process includes a base wheat, mixed with juniper and coriander layered with rosemary, thyme, dill seed, celery leaf and lemon verbena, according to the farm's website. —Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 22 Oct. 2025

Eastern Red Cedar and Juniper Eastern red cedar and other plants in the juniper family potentially spread cedar apple rust. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025

Century-old junipers, twisted by wind into natural bonsai, stood sentinel along ridgelines. —Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 12 Sep. 2025

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)