stevia

noun

ste·​via ˈstē-vē-ə 

-vyə

1

: any of a genus (Stevia) of composite herbs and shrubs of tropical and subtropical America

especially : a white-flowered tender perennial (S. rebaudiana) native to Paraguay

2

: a white powder composed of one or more intensely sweet glycosides derived from the leaves of a stevia (S. rebaudiana) and used as noncaloric sweetener

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

And, since the sweetness comes from stevia, the slather-it-on-everything barbecue sauce is sugar-free as well as gluten-free and vegan. —Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2023

There's no reason to think that honey or other natural sweeteners, such as stevia and monk fruit, with high levels of sucrose are really any different than sugar, several experts said. —Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2023

Formulated with only plant and non-GMO ingredients like pea protein, hemp protein, and chia seed powder, this premium flavor uses monk fruit and stevia for a touch of sweetness without all the white sugar or calories. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 17 Mar. 2023

It’s sweetened with stevia, a low-calorie sweetener that is generally recognized as safe (GRAS), though some people don’t love the taste of it or prefer to avoid it. —Sarah Anzlovar Ms, Health, 17 Mar. 2023

But one rigorous study led by Suez at the Weizmann Institute of Science with researcher Eran Elinav looked at what happened when people were given aspartame, saccharin, stevia, or sucralose in amounts well below the FDA’s daily allowances. —Laura Reiley, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2023

Two sweeteners in particular, saccharin and stevia, worsened the participants' blood sugar control. —Laura Reiley, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Mar. 2023

This simple smoothie made with frozen strawberries, ice, and the milk of your choice is sweetened with a keto-friendly stevia/erythritol blend and gets an extra fat boost from heavy whipping cream. —Women's Health, 27 Feb. 2023

These sodas are then sweetened with any combination of sugar, juice concentrates, and alternative sweeteners, like stevia or monk fruit extracts. —Karen Asp, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Petrus Jacobus Stevus (Pedro Jaime Esteve) †1555 Spanish physician and botanist

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

stevia

noun

ste·​via ˈstē-vē-ə 

: a South American perennial shrub (Stevia rebaudiana) of the composite family

also : a very sweet noncaloric glycoside-containing substance that is obtained from the leaves of the stevia