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

Add herbs like cilantro, thyme, or oregano for a more Southwestern vibe. —Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2025

Some examples of the classics include: Rusty Nail: made with single malt scotch, rye, honey liqueur, peach, sesame paste and oregano. —Bahar Anooshahr, AZCentral.com, 31 July 2025

Transfer the tomato solids to a medium bowl along with the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, the tomato paste, onion, both bell peppers, 1 tablespoon of salt, a pinch of oregano, and black pepper to taste. —Greg Chelmis, Saveur, 10 July 2025

Side dinner dishes: Greek Salad: Lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, oregano, Greek olive oil and red wine vinegar. —Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

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