sarsaparilla

noun

sar·​sa·​pa·​ril·​la ˌsa-spə-ˈri-lə 

ˌsär-,

-ˈre- 

ˌsa-sə-pə-,

ˌsär-sə-pə-

1

a

: any of various tropical American greenbriers

b

: the dried roots of a sarsaparilla used especially as a flavoring

2

: any of various plants (such as wild sarsaparilla) that resemble or are used as a substitute for sarsaparilla

3

: a sweetened carbonated beverage flavored with sassafras and oil distilled from a European birch

Examples of sarsaparilla in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The elegant spin on humble ingredients such as sorghum and sarsaparilla were unveiled Tuesday evening at a White House preview of the following evening’s diplomatic dining. —Emily Heil, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2023

Ground coffee beans, sarsaparilla, honey, tobacco, and black silt clay come together to completely purify. —ELLE, 13 June 2023

Hints of sarsaparilla and spice add interest. —Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2022

The sarsaparilla flavor in root beer lends the meat a woodsy mintiness, which sings when it’s paired with aromatics like bay leaves and shallots. —New York Times, 8 Dec. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Spanish zarzaparrilla, from zarza bush + parrilla, diminutive of parra vine

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sarsaparilla

• wild sarsaparilla

Kids Definition

sarsaparilla

noun

sar·​sa·​pa·​ril·​la ˌsas-(ə-)pə-ˈril-ə 

ˌsärs-

1

: the dried roots of any of several tropical American woody plants used especially as a flavoring

also : a plant that produces sarsaparilla

2

: a sweetened carbonated beverage flavored with sassafras and an oil from a birch

Medical Definition

sarsaparilla

noun

sar·​sa·​pa·​ril·​la ˌsas-(ə-)pə-ˈril-ə  ˌsärs- 

-ˈrel-

1

a

: any of various tropical American plants of the genus Smilax

b

: any of various plants (as wild sarsaparilla, Aralia nudicaulis) that resemble or are used as a substitute for the sarsaparillas

2

a

: the dried roots of any of several sarsaparillas of the genus Smilax (especially S. aristolochiaefolia, S. febrifuga, and S. regelii) used now especially as a flavoring and formerly for the diaphoretic, expectorant, and laxative effects of the saponins found in them and without curative effect in the treatment of syphilis

b

: the roots of wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) used similarly