juniper

noun

ju·​ni·​per ˈjü-nə-pər How to pronounce juniper (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One, aged in juniper wood, tasted of the bitter berry. Marcia Desanctis, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2025 This is largely thanks to the materials applied to the mummies, which included scented waxes, coniferous resins and oils made from pine, cedar, and juniper, as well as gum resins such as frankincense and myrrh. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Feb. 2025 Aviation American Gin is infused with blended botanicals, including cardamom, coriander, French lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, juniper, and two kinds of orange peel before it’s soaked in a neutral grain spirit for 18 hours. Angel Saunders, People.com, 12 Feb. 2025 The Canyon de Chelly National Monument, on the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona, encompasses 83,000-odd acres of sandstone peaks and plateaus towering above waterways dotted with pines, junipers, aspens and cottonwoods. Alastair Lee Bitsóí, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for juniper

Word History

Etymology

Middle English junipere, from Latin juniperus

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of juniper was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Juniper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juniper. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

juniper

noun
ju·​ni·​per ˈjü-nə-pər How to pronounce juniper (audio)
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 How to pronounce juniper (audio)
: an evergreen shrub or tree (genus Juniperus) of the cypress family (Cupressaceae)
especially : one having a prostrate or shrubby habit (as Juniperus communis)

More from Merriam-Webster on juniper

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!