echinacea

American  

[ek-uh-ney-shuh, -see-uh] / ˌɛk əˈneɪ ʃə, -si ə /

noun

1. any of several coneflowers of the genus Echinacea whose leaves, roots, and other parts are used in herbal medicine to promote wound healing and enhance the immune system.

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echinacea British  

/ ˌɛkɪˈneɪʃɪə /

noun

1. Also called: purple coneflower.  either of the two N American plants of the genus Echinacea, having flower heads with purple rays and black centres: family Compositae (composites) See coneflower

2. the powdered root of either of these plants, used to stimulate the immune system

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Etymology

Origin of echinacea

First recorded in 1825–30; from New Latin Echīnācea, genus name, from Latin echīnus “sea urchin,” from Greek echînos “hedgehog, sea urchin, a kind of plant” + -acea ( def. )

Example Sentences

I started off pretty skeptical about echinacea, but actually, I’m an author on studies showing that echinacea reduces antibiotic usage by about 70 percent in children if they use it as a prophylaxis.

From Slate • Oct. 8, 2025

She also says echinacea, turmeric and ginger shots are not going to give you an immune boost.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2025

They planted these with color: hebe shrubs of varying leaf colors, grasses, echinacea and elephant ear plants, which display oversize, arrow-shaped leaves.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 14, 2021

There are some natural products that may be useful for colds and flu specifically, such as andrographis and astragalus — and those that aren’t, echinacea and oscillococcinum.

From New York Times • Jun. 22, 2017

When Mother couldn’t get the swelling down with echinacea and calendula, Dad suggested his own remedy.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover