coriander
Americannoun
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Also called cilantro. Also called Chinese parsley. an herb, Coriandrum sativum, of the parsley family, native to Europe, having strong-scented leaves used in cooking and aromatic seeds used as a seasoning and in medicine.
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the seeds of this plant.
noun
Etymology
Origin of coriander
1350–1400; Middle English coriandre < Latin coriandrum < Greek koríandron, variant of koríannon
Explanation
Coriander is a plant that's used as flavoring in cooking. Both the leaves and seeds of coriander show up in Indian, Mexican, and Thai recipes, among others. The bright green leaves of coriander are also called "cilantro" in North America, and they're an ingredient in many regional dishes, often appearing as a garnish on both curries and guacamole. Coriander seeds are ground into a spice with a lemony, slightly spicy flavor that's found in many Indian dishes. Coriander has a Greek root, koriannon, which some botanists suspect is related to koris, "bedbug," because of the unripe plant's unpleasant smell.
Vocabulary lists containing coriander
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.
It’s a spice mix made of cumin, coriander, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and turmeric.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
Anise, coriander and other flavorings lent a subtle complexity to the “special soy sauce” set out on the tables.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2025
I also have a deep love for fresh herbs in my salads — coriander, dill, chives, parsley, oregano, thyme, rosemary and many others.
From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2024
Cumin, coriander, cardamom, ginger represent the array of spices commonly found in Afghan cuisine, particularly at Lapis.
From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2024
I knew the names of all the spices on Mama’s spice rack before I could read: salt, paprika, turmeric, cumin, coriander, mint.
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
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.
