oregano

American  

[uh-reg-uh-noh, aw-reg‑] / əˈrɛg əˌnoʊ, ɔˈrɛg‑ /

noun

1. an aromatic herb, Origanum vulgare, of the mint family, having leaves used as seasoning in cooking.

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oregano British  

/ ˌɒrɪˈɡɑːnəʊ /

noun

1. a Mediterranean variety of wild marjoram ( Origanum vulgare ), with pungent leaves

2. the dried powdered leaves of this plant, used to season food

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Etymology

Origin of oregano

First recorded in 1765–75; from Spanish orégano : “wild marjoram,” from Latin orīganum. See origan

Compare meaning

How does oregano compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• marjoram vs. oregano