herb

noun

ˈərb 

US also and British usually

ˈhərb 

often attributive

1

botany : a seed-producing annual, biennial, or perennial that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities

planted parsley, basil, and rosemary in her herb garden

3

slang : marijuana sense 2

herblike

ˈ(h)ərb-ˌlīk 

adjective

herby

ˈ(h)ər-bē 

adjective

Examples of herb in a Sentence

a dish seasoned with chopped fresh herbs

rosemary, sage, and other herbs

Recent Examples on the Web

The calypso music shouted now from an imitation rock in the herb garden. —Literary Hub, 26 June 2025

These postnatal vitamins contain vitamins and herbs, such as fenugreek and brewer’s yeast, that help promote lactation. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 25 June 2025

As the name implies, the restaurant leans into seasonal and local ingredients and believes in the power of herbs and other wild plants in the area. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2025

His crab cake hews close to tradition, with egg and panko binding the mixture, and mustard and fresh herbs for seasoning. —Christina Tkacik, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English herbe, from Anglo-French, from Latin herba

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing herb

• herb doctor
• herb Robert
• willow herb

Rhymes for herb

• blurb
• curb
• erb
• kerb
• serb
• verb
• disturb
• perturb
• reverb
• superb

Kids Definition

herb

noun

ˈərb 

also

ˈhərb 

1

: a seed-producing plant that does not develop long-lived woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part used for making medicine and seasonings

Medical Definition

herb

noun

ˈ(h)ərb 

often attributive

1

: a seed plant that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities