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oregano

American  
[uh-reg-uh-noh, aw-reg‑] / əˈrɛg əˌnoʊ, ɔˈrɛg‑ /

noun

oreganos plural
  1. an aromatic herb, Origanum vulgare, of the mint family, having leaves used as seasoning in cooking.


oregano British  
/ ˌɒrɪˈɡɑːnəʊ /

noun

  1. a Mediterranean variety of wild marjoram ( Origanum vulgare ), with pungent leaves

  2. the dried powdered leaves of this plant, used to season food

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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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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

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

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