stevia

noun

ste·​via ˈstē-vē-ə 

-vyə

1

: any of a genus (Stevia) of composite herbs and shrubs of tropical and subtropical America

especially : a white-flowered tender perennial (S. rebaudiana) native to Paraguay

2

: a white powder composed of one or more intensely sweet glycosides derived from the leaves of a stevia (S. rebaudiana) and used as noncaloric sweetener

Examples of stevia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The recipe uses unsweetened applesauce and stevia instead of sugar. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 10 Dec. 2024

Also, stevia has a distinct aftertaste that not everyone enjoys. —Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Verywell Health, 19 Nov. 2024

Meanwhile, the chocolate iteration has almond milk, almond butter, keto protein blend, cocoa and stevia. —Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 29 Oct. 2024

It’s sweetened with stevia but doesn’t have any of that bitter, cloying aftertaste. —Amanda Shapiro, Bon Appétit, 16 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Petrus Jacobus Stevus (Pedro Jaime Esteve) †1555 Spanish physician and botanist

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

stevia

noun

ste·​via ˈstē-vē-ə 

: a South American perennial shrub (Stevia rebaudiana) of the composite family

also : a very sweet noncaloric glycoside-containing substance that is obtained from the leaves of the stevia