botanical
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of botanical
1650–60; botanic (< Medieval Latin botanicus < Greek botanikós of plants, equivalent to botán ( ē ) herb + -ikos -ic ) + -al 1
Explanation
Use the adjective botanical to describe something that has to do with plants. You might call your illustrated book of New England ferns and mosses a botanical guide. Botanical research involves the study of plants, and a botanical scientist — or botanist — has focused her career on learning about plants. If there are botanical substances in your favorite soda, it means that in addition to sugar and chemicals, there are plant ingredients too. Botanical comes from botanic, which has its root in the Greek word botanikos, "of herbs."
Vocabulary lists containing botanical
My Side of the Mountain
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The Most Beautiful Roof in the World
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"Allied with Green," Vocabulary from the short story
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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.
The 17.5-acre site will include high-end retail outlets, upscale dining, 78 new hotel suites and acres of botanical gardens.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
Research led by Brandon Boor at Purdue University found that fragrance compounds released by both conventional cleaners and botanical essential oil-based products can rapidly react indoors and generate nanoparticles.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026
Abstract Scented volatile chemical products, including surface cleaning agents and botanical disinfectants, are widely used indoors and represent a major source of reactive organic emissions.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026
The 29-year-old decided to become a botanical preservation artist and launched Bunga Karsa, a line of botanical jewelry and accessories featuring real flowers grown at her tiny University Park apartment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
America’s botanical possibilities excited Europeans inordinately, and there was both glory and money to be made out in the woods.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
