juniper

noun

ju·​ni·​per ˈjü-nə-pər 

1

a

: any of numerous shrubs or trees (genus Juniperus) of the cypress family with leaves resembling needles or scales and female cones usually resembling berries

b

: the berrylike cone or fruit of a juniper

especially : the bluish one of a common juniper (J. communis) which is used to flavor foods and from which is obtained an acrid essential oil used especially as a flavoring in gin and liqueurs

called also juniper berry

2

: any of several coniferous trees resembling true junipers

Examples of juniper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This includes shrubs, trees and evergreens—including oak, juniper and strawberry trees as well as rosemary, myrtle, wild fennel and euphorbia. —Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025

Other common fire-prone trees include cypress, firs, junipers and spruces, according to the National Forest Foundation. —Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025

Now the steps have planters with juniper bushes on top for aesthetics — and to keep fans from lounging there. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025

Rust fungi bounce back and forth between these two different host plants, spending part of the year inside certain rose family species (like serviceberry, hawthorn, crabapple, and apple), and the rest inside the juniper. —Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English junipere, from Latin juniperus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing juniper

• juniper tar

Kids Definition

juniper

noun

ju·​ni·​per ˈjü-nə-pər 

1

a

: any of numerous evergreen shrubs and trees that are related to the pines but produce female cones resembling berries

b

: the berrylike cone or fruit of a juniper

2

: any of various evergreen trees resembling true junipers

Medical Definition

juniper

noun

ju·​ni·​per ˈjü-nə-pər 

: an evergreen shrub or tree (genus Juniperus) of the cypress family (Cupressaceae)

especially : one having a prostrate or shrubby habit (as Juniperus communis)