wintergreen

noun

win·​ter·​green ˈwin-tər-ˌgrēn 

1

: any of a genus (Pyrola of the family Pyrolaceae, the wintergreen family) of evergreen perennial herbs (such as the shinleafs) that have basal leaves and racemose flowers

2

a

: any of a genus (Gaultheria) of evergreen plants of the heath family

especially : a low creeping evergreen shrub (G. procumbens) of North America with white flowers and spicy red berries compare checkerberry

b(1)

: an essential oil from this plant

(2)

: the flavor of this oil

wintergreen lozenges

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Flavors from the period like clove and sassafras have given way to an ambiguous array of what might best be called fruit-adjacent flavors, and wintergreen. —Kim Severson, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2023

Blue raspberry replaced wintergreen. —Kim Severson, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2023

Also, Skoal wintergreen, long cut. —Rachel Kushner, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Mar. 2022

The next day, the same mouse was put in a distinctly different box—one with the scent of wintergreen and a grid floor, for example. —Kat Mcgowan, Discover Magazine, 11 Mar. 2013

Key Ingredients: eucalyptus, clove, aloe vera, vitamin E, and wintergreen. —Ysolt Usigan, Woman's Day, 21 Sep. 2022

Its eucalyptus works to reduce inflammation, clove oil treats irritation, aloe vera calms inflammation, peppermint acts as an antiseptic, vitamin E oil moisturizes, and wintergreen stimulates blood circulation. —Ysolt Usigan, Woman's Day, 21 Sep. 2022

Edible Wild Plants of Autumn will be presented Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 6:30 p.m. Learn how to identify, sustainably harvest, and prepare the wild foods of autumn, from acorns to wintergreen leaves. —Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2022

This natural shampoo coddles your scalp with aloe leaf juice, baobab 0il, and wintergreen, spearmint, and peppermint oils, so you're left with nothing but clean, moisturized, and healthy hair. —Lindy Segal, Harper's BAZAAR, 4 Aug. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wintergreen

• oil of wintergreen

• oil of wintergreen

Kids Definition

wintergreen

noun

win·​ter·​green ˈwint-ər-ˌgrēn 

1

a

: a low evergreen plant of the heath family with white bell-shaped flowers and spicy red berries

called also checkerberry

b

: an oil from the wintergreen or its flavor

2

: any of several plants related to the wintergreen

Medical Definition

wintergreen

noun

win·​ter·​green ˈwint-ər-ˌgrēn 

1

: any plant of the genus Gaultheria

especially : a low evergreen plant (G. procumbens) with white flowers and spicy red berries

2

: oil of wintergreen