oregano

noun

oreg·​a·​no ə-ˈre-gə-ˌnō 

1

: a bushy perennial mint (Origanum vulgare) with leaves that are used as a seasoning and a source of aromatic oil

called also origanum, wild marjoram

2

: any of several plants (genera Lippia and Coleus) other than oregano of the vervain or mint families

Examples of oregano in a Sentence

The recipe calls for a tablespoon of chopped oregano.

Recent Examples on the Web

The two original styles of Neapolitan pizza are Margherita, which has San Marzano tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella di bufala and basil, and marinara, which is the same tomato sauce with olive oil, garlic and oregano — no cheese. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 14 Mar. 2026

Fresh spring vegetables brighten up this lemony roast chicken recipe, which calls for rainbow carrots and fragrant herb sprigs (such as thyme, oregano, parsley, or dill). —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026

Expired Spices How old is your oregano? —Heather Bien, The Spruce, 14 Mar. 2026

Stir in oregano and bay leaves; cook 30 seconds. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish orégano, from Spanish, wild marjoram, from Latin origanum — more at origanum

First Known Use

1771, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for oregano

• adagio
• altiplano
• arapaho
• arapahoe
• manifesto
• medicago
• minangkabau
• ostinato
• pistachio
• politico
• portfolio
• presidio

Kids Definition

oregano

noun

oreg·​a·​no ə-ˈreg-ə-ˌnō 

plural oreganos

: a bushy mint with leaves used as a seasoning and a source of a fragrant oil