sorrel

1 of 2

noun (1)

sor·​rel ˈsȯr-əl 

ˈsär-

1

: a sorrel-colored animal

especially : a light bright chestnut horse often with a mane and tail of lighter color (such as flaxen) compare chestnut entry 1 sense 4, bay entry 2 sense 1

2

: a brownish orange to light brown

sorrel

2 of 2

noun (2)

: any of various plants or plant parts with sour juice: such as

a

: any of various docks (such as Rumex acetosa and R. acetosella)

also : the leaves used as a potherb

b

: wood sorrel

Examples of sorrel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Located some 20 miles northwest of Hobart, the island’s waterfront capital city, Dunn is growing a rainbow of produce, from berries, apples, and plums to a dizzying array of herbs like pineapple sage, sorrel, and around eight different varieties of mint. —Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 28 May 2025

Traditional soups may include lamb, chickpeas, chestnuts, wild sorrel, onion, apricots, mint and saffron and perhaps will be served with sumac and fresh red onion (chestnuts are used rather than potatoes in traditional Azerbaijan cuisine). —Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

Its most popular items ordered at the café include hibiscus match latte, hibiscus smoothie, sorrel and blue power smoothie. —Gary Stern, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

Hibiscus Tea Hibiscus tea, also known as roselle or red sorrel, may help prevent UTIs. —Devineé Lingo, M.s., Health, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English sorel, noun & adjective, from Anglo-French, from sor red, auburn, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch soor dry, barren, Old English sēar dry — more at sere

Noun (2)

Middle English sorel, from Anglo-French surele, from sur, siur sour, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German sūr sour — more at sour

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sorrel

• sheep sorrel
• sorrel tree
• wood sorrel

Rhymes for sorrel

• aural
• chloral
• choral
• coral
• floral
• forel
• lauryl
• loral
• moral
• quarrel
• sorel
• toral

Kids Definition

sorrel

1 of 2 noun

sor·​rel ˈsȯr-əl 

ˈsär-

1

: a brownish orange to light brown

2

: a sorrel-colored animal

especially : a light reddish brown horse often with cream mane and tail

sorrel

2 of 2 noun

: any of various plants (as dock or wood sorrel) with sour juice