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Nectar is often mentioned in conjunction with ambrosia, the food of the Greek and Roman gods. For centuries, English speakers have used ambrosia to refer to something with an extremely pleasing taste or smell, and nectar to refer to a delicious drink, especially a fruit juice. To the ancient Greeks and Romans, however, the powers of nectar and ambrosia far exceeded those of any earthly fare; consuming nectar and ambrosia gave the gods their immortality. In Greek, the literal meanings of ambrosia and nectar are "immortality" and "overcoming death," respectively. Nektar is believed to be a compound of Greek nek- (probably akin to Latin nec-, meaning "death") and -tar (probably akin to Sanksrit tarati, meaning "he overcomes or crosses over").
Examples of nectar in a Sentence
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
Keep Your Feeder in Good Repair Any cracks or leaks in your hummingbird feeder can allow drips of sugary nectar to drip down and attract ants.
—Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 7 Feb. 2026
Transplant it outdoors so the bees and butterflies can enjoy nectar from the tiny flowers.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Blazing star also attracts lots of pollinators, like butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, providing a nectar source for them in the summer, while its seedheads provide food for birds in the winter.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 27 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Nectar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nectar. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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nectar
noun
