oregano
Americannoun
noun
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a Mediterranean variety of wild marjoram ( Origanum vulgare ), with pungent leaves
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the dried powdered leaves of this plant, used to season food
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of oregano
First recorded in 1765–75; from Spanish orégano : “wild marjoram,” from Latin orīganum. See origan
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Vocabulary lists containing oregano
Example Sentences
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She also grows oregano and lemongrass, with which she brews into a tea to soothe stomach issues.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
The pies are, mostly, worth it: bubbling cheese, fine aroma of basil or oregano, oven-darkened yeasty crusts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
Add the chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano and cayenne.
From Salon ● May 19, 2026
From there, the whole thing gets nudged further into depth with oregano, paprika and, perhaps unexpectedly, soy sauce.
From Salon ● May 19, 2026
It’s topped with lime juice, white onion, and dry oregano.
From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez
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The lineup usually includes chives, tarragon, dill, marjoram, savory, some oreganos, mints, a few types of basil and boatloads of cilantro and parsley.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 5, 2019
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.