white sage
Americannoun
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Also called greasewood. a shrubby plant, Salvia apiana, of the mint family, native to southern California, having white, hairy foliage and spikes of white or pale lavender flowers.
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an aromatic, composite plant, Artemisia ludoviciana, of western North America, having leaves with a downy white undersurface.
Etymology
Origin of white sage
An Americanism dating back to 1865–70
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She hopes the golden yarrow will spread, and she’s especially proud of the large white sage she grew from seeds that a friend gave her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
Club regular Juno Stilley sat inside with the seed-sorters, grinding white sage between her fingers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2025
While California white sage is currently not on the endangered list, picking white sage on public land is illegal but continues.
From Salon ● Jan. 1, 2024
Furthermore, Indigenous people may use herbs like white sage for their rich medicinal properties.
From Salon ● Jan. 1, 2024
"The White King, as we Arizona wild-hoss wranglers calls this mustang, is mighty pertickler about his feed, an' he ranged along here last night, easy like, browsin' on this white sage," said Stewart.
From The Last of the Plainsmen by Grey, Zane
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
