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

Higher up the mountains, swaths of alligator juniper and Emory oak have perished, their copper leaves and dark skeletons blighting the borderlands. —Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026

Ashe juniper trees, whose pollen triggers what's known in Texas as cedar fever, shed pollen in the winter. —Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026

Ashe juniper trees, whose pollen triggers what's known in Texas as cedar fever, shed pollen in the winter. —Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 18 Mar. 2026

Tree pollens were high as of March 4, with oak, juniper and cedar as the most common. —Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 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)