celery

noun

cel·​ery ˈse-lə-rē 

ˈsel-rē

plural celeries

: a European herb (Apium graveolens) of the carrot family

specifically : one of a cultivated variety (A. graveolens var. dulce) with leafstalks eaten raw or cooked

Examples of celery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Olive Garden Classic Caesar Dressing: This bottled dressing had a sweet-savory twang with notes of celery seed that reminded us more of a slaw dressing than Caesar. Wish-Bone Creamy Caesar Dressing: Tasters detected a meaty flavor, almost like pepperoni. —Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 13 Feb. 2025

Add the tomatoes, onion, and celery; cook, stirring often, until tomatoes and onions are softened, about 10 minutes. —Yvette Zuniga Jemison, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2025

Other foods to avoid include fibrous vegetables, such as celery, onion skins, artichokes, and asparagus. —Steven John, Architectural Digest, 21 Jan. 2025

Ways to enjoy celery include: Sauté or braise celery, or add it to a stir-fry. Make a celery soup with garlic and potatoes sautéed in olive oil, broth (also hydrating), and herbs. —Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French céleri (17th-century celeris, sceleri, Middle French scellerin), borrowed from an Upper Italian form (as Ligurian sèlarʼu, Lombard sèleri), altered from Vulgar Latin *selinum (Late Latin selīnon), borrowed from Greek sélīnon, perhaps from a pre-Greek substratal language

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing celery

• celery cabbage
• celery root
• wild celery

Kids Definition

celery

noun

cel·​ery ˈsel-(ə-)rē 

plural celeries

: a European herb related to the carrot and widely grown for the thick edible stems

also : the stems of celery used for food