coriander

American  

[kawr-ee-an-der] / ˈkɔr iˌæn dər /

noun

1. 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.

2. the seeds of this plant.

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coriander British  

/ ˌkɒrɪˈændə /

noun

1. US and Canadian name: cilantro.  a European umbelliferous plant, Coriandrum sativum, widely cultivated for its aromatic seeds and leaves, used in flavouring food, etc

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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.

Example Sentences

It’s a spice mix made of cumin, coriander, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and turmeric.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Also on the list was aloo naan - made by stuffing the naan with potatoes seasoned with spices and coriander.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

The samosas themselves are filled with paneer cheese and chunks of pumpkin that’s seasoned with garam masala, cumin, coriander, chile powder, and fennel seeds and encased in a flaky pastry.

From Salon • Sep. 29, 2025

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

Soon, I'm munching on a hot, crisp dosai that's filled with fresh chutney made from ground-up coconut and coriander and chili, according to Patti.

From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman