rosemary

noun

rose·​mary ˈrōz-ˌmer-ē 

plural rosemaries

: a fragrant shrubby Mediterranean mint (Salvia rosmarinus synonym Rosmarinus officinalis) having grayish-green needlelike leaves used as a seasoning

also : the leaves of rosemary

Examples of rosemary in a Sentence

The recipe calls for a tablespoon of rosemary.

Recent Examples on the Web

Botanical Name: Petunia hybrids Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade Soil Type: Medium, well-draining, average fertility Soil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-7.0) 09 of 11 Rosemary The fragrant, needle-like foliage of rosemary will repel flies but add a distinctive flavor to your recipes. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 June 2025

The rosemary should look very finely chopped, like confetti. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2025

Scattering rosemary on Christmas Eve and herb strewing at large persisted until the eighteenth century. —Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 20 Dec. 2024

Made with 13 botanicals, including rosemary, thyme, cumin and ginger, this is very flavorful with great complexity and elegance, along with a clean, well rounded finish. —Tom Hyland, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rosemarye, rosemary, folk-etymological alteration of rosmaryn, rosmarine, borrowed from Anglo-French rosemaryn, borrowed from Latin rōsmarīnum, rōs marīnus, literally "sea dew," from rōr-, rōs "dew" + marīnus "of the sea, marine entry 1"; rōr-, rōs going back to Indo-European *h₁rōs-, *h₁ros- "dew, juice" (whence also Old Church Slavic rosa "dew," Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian ròsa, accusative rȍsu, Lithuanian rasà, Sanskrit rásaḥ "juice, liquid"), probably derivative from the verbal base *h₁ers- "stream, flow," whence Sanskrit árṣati "(it) flows," Hittite ārašzi, aršanzi

Note: The element rōs in the Latin compound may represent Greek rhoûs "sumac," conformed to rōr-, rōs "dew" by folk etymology.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rosemary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids Definition

rosemary

noun

rose·​mary ˈrōz-ˌmer-ē 

: a fragrant shrubby mint with grayish green needlelike leaves used as a seasoning

also : the leaves of rosemary

Etymology

an altered form of Middle English rosmarine "rosemary," from Latin rosmarinus, literally, "dew of the sea," from ros "dew" and marinus "of the sea"

Medical Definition

rosemary

noun

rose·​mary ˈrōz-ˌmer-ē 

plural rosemaries

: a fragrant shrubby mint (Salvia rosmarinus synonym Rosmarinus officinalis) of southern Europe and Asia Minor that is the source of rosemary oil and was formerly used medicinally as a stimulant and carminative