sarsaparilla

noun

sar·​sa·​pa·​ril·​la ˌsa-spə-ˈri-lə 

ˌsär-,

-ˈre- 

ˌsa-sə-pə-,

ˌsär-sə-pə-

1

a

: any of various tropical American greenbriers

b

: the dried roots of a sarsaparilla used especially as a flavoring

2

: any of various plants (such as wild sarsaparilla) that resemble or are used as a substitute for sarsaparilla

3

: a sweetened carbonated beverage flavored with sassafras and oil distilled from a European birch

Examples of sarsaparilla in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There is a dryness to the initial sip; cedar and sarsaparilla, opening up to reveal cinnamon spice in the finish. —Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025

Aviation American Gin is infused with blended botanicals, including cardamom, coriander, French lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, juniper, and two kinds of orange peel before it’s soaked in a neutral grain spirit for 18 hours. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 12 Feb. 2025

Forest floor, dark cherries, cola spice, sappy tannins, and a nod in the direction of cigar humidor linger with hints of sarsaparilla through the long finish. —Brian Freedman, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

This delightful Cab has aromas and flavors of fennel frond, cigar box, cassis, cranberry, and a touch of sarsaparilla root in the finish. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish zarzaparrilla, from zarza bush + parrilla, diminutive of parra vine

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sarsaparilla

• wild sarsaparilla

Rhymes for sarsaparilla

• axilla
• flotilla
• gorilla
• guerilla
• guerrilla
• manilla
• mantilla
• maxilla
• mesilla
• papilla
• priscilla
• scintilla

Kids Definition

sarsaparilla

noun

sar·​sa·​pa·​ril·​la ˌsas-(ə-)pə-ˈril-ə 

ˌsärs-

1

: the dried roots of any of several tropical American woody plants used especially as a flavoring

also : a plant that produces sarsaparilla

2

: a sweetened carbonated beverage flavored with sassafras and an oil from a birch

Medical Definition

sarsaparilla

noun

sar·​sa·​pa·​ril·​la ˌsas-(ə-)pə-ˈril-ə  ˌsärs- 

-ˈrel-

1

a

: any of various tropical American plants of the genus Smilax

b

: any of various plants (as wild sarsaparilla, Aralia nudicaulis) that resemble or are used as a substitute for the sarsaparillas

2

a

: the dried roots of any of several sarsaparillas of the genus Smilax (especially S. aristolochiaefolia, S. febrifuga, and S. regelii) used now especially as a flavoring and formerly for the diaphoretic, expectorant, and laxative effects of the saponins found in them and without curative effect in the treatment of syphilis

b

: the roots of wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) used similarly