ambrosia

American  

[am-broh-zhuh] / æmˈbroʊ ʒə /

noun

1. Classical Mythology. the food of the gods.

2. something especially delicious to taste or smell.

3. a fruit dessert made of oranges and shredded coconut and sometimes pineapple.

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ambrosia British  

/ æmˈbrəʊzɪə /

noun

1. classical myth the food of the gods, said to bestow immortality Compare nectar

2. anything particularly delightful to taste or smell

3. another name for beebread

4. any of various herbaceous plants constituting the genus Ambrosia, mostly native to America but widely naturalized: family Asteraceae (composites). The genus includes the ragweeds

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ambrosia Cultural  

1. The food of the gods in classical mythology. Those who ate it became immortal.

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Discover More

Particularly delicious food is sometimes called “ambrosia.”

Other Word Forms

• ambrosial adjective
• ambrosially adverb

Etymology

Origin of ambrosia

1545–55; < Latin < Greek: immortality, food of the gods, noun use of feminine of ambrósios, equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + -mbros- (combining form of brotōs mortal; akin to Latin mortuus dead, murder ) + -ios adj. suffix; replacing Middle English ambrose, ambrosie < Old French ambroise < Latin

Example Sentences

Whisked egg yolks and sugar get spooned on top, like a frothy, golden ambrosia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

“Nothing calms me down,” Marge says, “like making a fresh batch of ambrosia salad. With plenty of grapes.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

For some, though, “fruit salad” still conjures images of syrup-slicked fruit orbs — maybe even veering into ambrosia territory.

From Salon • May 31, 2025

DiMario’s ambrosia, carefully unmolded and delicately set, is more than a dessert—it’s a performance of memory.

From Salon • Apr. 27, 2025

He had a fresh pair of jeans and an extra purple T-shirt from the camp quartermaster, plus some nectar, ambrosia, snacks, a little mortal money, and camping supplies.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan