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

Examples of stevia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sucralose is typically sweeter than stevia, which can influence the amount needed to achieve the same level of sweetness. —Verywell Health, 17 Feb. 2026

One way to improve the taste is to add a natural sweetener such as honey, maple syrup or stevia to the mix. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026

This spray comes in two flavors, lavender and mint, and is sweetened with stevia. —Julia Forbes, Wired News, 31 Jan. 2026

Conversely, powdery sugar substitutes such as aspartame or even stevia can be more than 300 times as sweet as sucrose, thereby altering the bulk volume needed for food preparation. —Nina Shapiro, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

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

Rhymes for stevia

• previa

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