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 Since 2005, more than 200,000 acres have burned in and around the Mojave National Preserve; fires have destroyed lush pinyon pine and juniper woodlands, desert tortoise habitat and ancient petroglyphs. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 The classic juniper character of Hendrick’s Gin is naturally enhanced by the soft sweetness and delightful fruitiness of stone fruit, rounded out by aromatic herbs which accentuate the freshness of Hendrick’s signature cucumber notes. Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 One easy-to-make but tasty drink is the spirit mixed with seltzer water — the carbonation helps bring out the spirit's strong flavors of juniper, basil and orange. Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024 The core botanical is Ghanian baobab fruit, which is complemented by Kenyan juniper berries; coriander, rosemary, and cinnamon from South Africa; and coarse salt from Botswana. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2024 Next, fill in gaps with snips of blue spruce or juniper branches for color. Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023 Scan your home for opportunities to add little touches of juniper to other decorative pieces, such as vases, trays, figurines, and objets d'art. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 12 Nov. 2023 The brand is named after Berry Bros. & Rudd’s 3 St. James Street address in London, and is distilled in the Netherlands using three key botanicals for flavor—juniper, citrus, and spice (including cardamom, coriander, and angelica root). Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 Dec. 2023 As the scent deepens, we are left with spicy palo santo and patchouli, with dark musk and juniper bitters at the base. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 12 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'juniper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near juniper

Cite this Entry

“Juniper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juniper. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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!