oregano

American  

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

noun

• oreganos
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• oreganos
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of oregano

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

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Compare meaning

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

• marjoram vs. oregano

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

oregano oreganos

She also grows oregano and lemongrass, with which she brews into a tea to soothe stomach issues.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

From there, I add red pepper flakes, dried oregano, garlic powder and whatever leafy herbs need using up.

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026

You can also use an Italian seasoning blend, which incorporates dried basil, dried oregano, dried rosemary, dried thyme leaves, dried parsley, garlic powder and red pepper flakes.

From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026

The pies are, mostly, worth it: bubbling cheese, fine aroma of basil or oregano, oven-darkened yeasty crusts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

The aroma of tomato sauce drifted outside, rich with oregano and garlic.

From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn

The lineup usually includes chives, tarragon, dill, marjoram, savory, some oreganos, mints, a few types of basil and boatloads of cilantro and parsley.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 5, 2019

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