gentian
noun
gen·tian
ˈjen(t)-shən 
1
: any of numerous herbs (family Gentianaceae, the gentian family, and especially genus Gentiana) with opposite smooth leaves and showy usually blue flowers
2
: the rhizome and roots of a yellow-flowered gentian (Gentiana lutea) of southern Europe that is used as a tonic, stomachic, and flavoring in vermouth
Examples of gentian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Photo by Michael Thaler/Shutterstock Wildflowers in the Dolomites, Italy
April–August
Edelweiss, poppies, gentians, saxifrages, forget-me-nots—these are a handful of the storybook flora that hikers may encounter when trekking in the Italian Alps.
—
Ashlea Halpern, AFAR Media, 6 Mar. 2025
Tiny golden buttercups, scarlet gilia, purple sticky geraniums, and 3-foot green gentians, which live for decades but only bloom once, are all on display.
—Krista Simmons and J.d. Simkins, Sunset Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024
Female Alcon blues lay their eggs on gentians.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2023
Its distinguishing feature is Aperol, a bright orange bitter Italian liqueur of gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona.
—Alex Erdekian, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2020
This year’s Olympic Games bouquet consists of eustoma, sunflower, gentian, narcolan and haran blossoms.
—Raisa Bruner, Time, 7 Feb. 2020
The French have bright yellow Suze and clear Salers, both gentian-based; the Germans have Jägermeister and Underberg.
—M. Carrie Allan, chicagotribune.com, 20 Nov. 2019
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Ashlea Halpern, AFAR Media, 6 Mar. 2025
Tiny golden buttercups, scarlet gilia, purple sticky geraniums, and 3-foot green gentians, which live for decades but only bloom once, are all on display.
—Krista Simmons and J.d. Simkins, Sunset Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024
Female Alcon blues lay their eggs on gentians.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2023
Its distinguishing feature is Aperol, a bright orange bitter Italian liqueur of gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona.
—Alex Erdekian, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2020
This year’s Olympic Games bouquet consists of eustoma, sunflower, gentian, narcolan and haran blossoms.
—Raisa Bruner, Time, 7 Feb. 2020
The French have bright yellow Suze and clear Salers, both gentian-based; the Germans have Jägermeister and Underberg.
—M. Carrie Allan, chicagotribune.com, 20 Nov. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Gentian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentian. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gentian
noun
gen·tian
ˈjen-chən
: any of various herbs with smooth leaves and showy bell-shaped or funnel-shaped usually blue flowers
Medical Definition
gentian
noun
gen·tian
ˈjen-chən
1
: any of two genera (Gentiana and Dasystephana) of herbs belonging to a family (Gentianaceae, the gentian family) and having opposite smooth leaves and showy usually blue flowers
2
: the rhizome and roots of a yellow-flowered gentian (Gentiana lutea) of southern Europe that is used as a tonic and stomachic
called also gentian root
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