herbaceous

adjective

her·​ba·​ceous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbā-shəs 

1

a

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an herb

b

of a stem : having little or no woody tissue and persisting usually for a single growing season

2

: having the texture, color, or appearance of a leaf

Examples of herbaceous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

My favorite flavor is cranberry sage, which has an herbaceous taste, but the rest (lemon lavender, blood orange cardamom, grapefruit rosemary) are just as fun. —Karen Yuan, Bon Appétit, 1 Feb. 2025

The finish is long and slightly sweet, with lingering herbaceous and cinnamon spice notes. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

Cream of celery soup and sour cream: Adds a nice hit of creaminess, tang, and saltiness. Parsley: For a fresh, herbaceous finish. —Amanda Stanfield, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024

At once cleansing, soothing, and hydrating, the botanical blend has a woody, herbaceous scent. —Jenny Berg, Allure, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing herbaceous

• herbaceous border

Kids Definition

herbaceous

adjective

her·​ba·​ceous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbā-shəs 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling an herb

2

: being a stem with little or no woody tissue and lasting usually only for a single growing season