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

When consuming oregano, however, blood vessels can be more relaxed and open due to carvacrol. —Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 20 Apr. 2026

Add lime juice, chopped fresh oregano, kosher salt, and serrano chile. —Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026

Squeeze excess milk from the bread and add it to the bowl along with the oregano, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg and a generous teaspoon of black pepper. —Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026

Oil, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper make a winning marinade that's wonderful on chicken, as well as on bread cubes and tomatoes. —Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 13 Apr. 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