fennel

American  

[fen-l] / ˈfɛn l /

noun

1. a plant, Foeniculum vulgare, of the parsley family, having feathery leaves and umbels of small, yellow flowers.

2. Also fennel seed the aromatic fruits of Foeniculum vulgare, used in cooking and medicine.

3. any of various plants more or less similar to Foeniculum vulgare, such as Ferula communis giant fennel, a tall, ornamental plant.

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fennel British  

/ ˈfɛnəl /

noun

1. a strong-smelling yellow-flowered umbelliferous plant, Foeniculum vulgare , whose seeds and feathery leaves are used to season and flavour food See also finocchio

2. another name for mayweed

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Etymology

Origin of fennel

First recorded before 900; Middle English fenel, Old English fenol, variant of finu ( g ) l from unattested Vulgar Latin fenuclum, for Latin fēniculum, faeniculum, equivalent to faeni- (combining form of faenum “hay”) + -culum -cle ¹

Example Sentences

I usually get a bunch of salads and the crab and fennel soup.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2026

The best salads mix the cooked — a little caramelized onion, roasted red pepper, maybe a chopped artichoke heart — with the crisp rawness of shaved fennel, scallions or celery.

From Salon • Dec. 4, 2025

The packaging for Molecule pills often lists "natural ingredients" such as dandelion root and fennel seed extract.

From BBC • Nov. 1, 2025

Crispy spare ribs with a mango and fennel salad were delicious and inspired, despite my typical aversion to ribs.

From Salon • Sep. 3, 2025

Smoke rose from the front of the yard, along with the delicious smell of oregano and garlic, rosemary, fennel, toasted annatto.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

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