alfalfa

noun

al·​fal·​fa al-ˈfal-fə How to pronounce alfalfa (audio)
: a deep-rooted leguminous perennial plant (Medicago sativa) of southwestern Asia that is widely grown for hay and forage

Examples of alfalfa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The staff used a hydraulic sling to gently lift her inside a vessel half filled with a mixture of alfalfa, sawdust and straw. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024 Pump jacks nod up and down in nearby fields of soybeans and alfalfa. Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 6 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for alfalfa 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alfalfa.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, modification of Arabic dialect al-faṣfaṣa the alfalfa

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alfalfa was in 1791

Dictionary Entries Near alfalfa

Cite this Entry

“Alfalfa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alfalfa. Accessed 31 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

alfalfa

noun
al·​fal·​fa al-ˈfal-fə How to pronounce alfalfa (audio)
: a deep-rooted southwest Asian plant of the legume family with purple flowers and leaves like clover that is widely grown for hay and forage

More from Merriam-Webster on alfalfa

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