rosemary

noun

rose·​mary ˈrōz-ˌmer-ē How to pronounce rosemary (audio)
plural rosemaries
: a fragrant shrubby Mediterranean mint (Salvia rosmarinus synonym Rosmarinus officinalis) having grayish-green needlelike leaves used as a seasoning
also : the leaves of rosemary

Examples of rosemary in a Sentence

The recipe calls for a tablespoon of rosemary.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
California native of the week: California native sea lavender (Limonium californicum) or Western marsh rosemary, is a tough perennial found in coastal marshes from Oregon to Baja California and thus requires regular water to grow to its full potential. Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 22 Mar. 2025 Class up the end of the meal with your version of Refectory's warm apple tarte with rosemary. Andrew King, Axios, 13 Dec. 2024 Hardy herbs like rosemary should be rolled between your palms or even lightly crushed. Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 6 May 2025 Full sun Soil Type: Well-draining, moist to dry Soil pH: Neutral Learn More 04 of 10 Rosemary As an evergreen shrub, there is a form of rosemary from upright to weeping that will be perfect for your container herb garden. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rosemary

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rosemarye, rosemary, folk-etymological alteration of rosmaryn, rosmarine, borrowed from Anglo-French rosemaryn, borrowed from Latin rōsmarīnum, rōs marīnus, literally "sea dew," from rōr-, rōs "dew" + marīnus "of the sea, marine entry 1"; rōr-, rōs going back to Indo-European *h1rōs-, *h1ros- "dew, juice" (whence also Old Church Slavic rosa "dew," Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian ròsa, accusative rȍsu, Lithuanian rasà, Sanskrit rásaḥ "juice, liquid"), probably derivative from the verbal base *h1ers- "stream, flow," whence Sanskrit árṣati "(it) flows," Hittite ārašzi, aršanzi

Note: The element rōs in the Latin compound may represent Greek rhoûs "sumac," conformed to rōr-, rōs "dew" by folk etymology.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rosemary was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rosemary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rosemary. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

rosemary

noun
rose·​mary ˈrōz-ˌmer-ē How to pronounce rosemary (audio)
: a fragrant shrubby mint with grayish green needlelike leaves used as a seasoning
also : the leaves of rosemary
Etymology

an altered form of Middle English rosmarine "rosemary," from Latin rosmarinus, literally, "dew of the sea," from ros "dew" and marinus "of the sea"

Medical Definition

rosemary

noun
rose·​mary ˈrōz-ˌmer-ē How to pronounce rosemary (audio)
plural rosemaries
: a fragrant shrubby mint (Salvia rosmarinus synonym Rosmarinus officinalis) of southern Europe and Asia Minor that is the source of rosemary oil and was formerly used medicinally as a stimulant and carminative

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