coriander

American  

[kawr-ee-an-der] / ˈkɔr iˌæn dər /

noun

1. Also called cilantro, 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

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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

See Examples For:

coriander

This is a current variation on roasted tomato soup I’ve been making a lot recently: warmly spiced with garam masala, fennel and coriander, rounded out with miso and coconut cream.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

While old spices aren’t likely to harm you, a jar of dusty cinnamon or five-year-old coriander isn’t doing your food any favors.

From Salon ● Dec. 20, 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

In the spice locker they found peppercorns, cloves, and cinnamon, mustard seeds, coriander, sage and clary sage and parsley, blocks of salt.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

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