oregano

[ uh-reg-uh-noh, aw-reg‐ ]

/ əˈrɛg əˌnoʊ, ɔˈrɛg‐ /

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noun

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

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Also called pot marjoram.

Compare marjoram.

Origin of oregano

First recorded in 1765–75; from Spanish orégano : “wild marjoram,” from Latin orīganum. See origan

Words nearby oregano

Örebro, orecchiette, orectic, ore dressing, Oreg., oregano, Oregon, Oregon cedar, Oregon City, Oregon crab apple, Oregon fir

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use oregano in a sentence

These get marinated in lime juice, dried oregano, slices of red onion and salt for about 10 minutes.
Fresh fish tiritas are a faster way to ceviche|Daniela Galarza|August 26, 2021|Washington Post
I loved the flavor of the filling, with the oregano and olives, so lovely and different than my shepherd’s pie, but I wanted a little something more there.
Mashed plantains top this thrifty, adaptable Caribbean cottage pie|Ann Maloney|August 24, 2021|Washington Post
Add the salt and oregano and cook, stirring often, until the meat is brown, about 5 minutes.
Mashed plantains top this thrifty, adaptable Caribbean cottage pie|Ann Maloney|August 24, 2021|Washington Post
She tops it with boiled, mashed green plantains, which she says is “a traditional dish in the Dominican Republic” and she adds “Puerto Rican flavoring” to the ground beef, including oregano, onion, bell pepper, garlic, cilantro and olives.
Mashed plantains top this thrifty, adaptable Caribbean cottage pie|Ann Maloney|August 24, 2021|Washington Post

However, you could also use sazón, another seasoning blend popular on the island, or a simple combo of salt, pepper, garlic powder and oregano.
Apples make this Puerto Rican potato salad a savory, sweet and polarizing side dish|Aaron Hutcherson|July 14, 2021|Washington Post
Goats milk is the closest equivalent to human breast milk and I always take these in combination with oil of oregano capsules.
These Are The 15 Supplements to Keep In Your Medicine Cabinet|Ari Meisel|December 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Add the wine, beef bones, bay leaf, oregano, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, if using.
Super-fy Your Super Bowl Snacks|Michael Symon|February 3, 2011|DAILY BEAST
For an herbal infusion, dress the beans with rosemary or oregano, garlic, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.
Snack Mixes That Won't Bite Back|Stacey Slate|December 29, 2009|DAILY BEAST
It calls for Calabrian oregano on the branch, which if you can get from your local Italian food store, is always worth the effort.
5 Recipes from a New York Restaurant Juggernaut|Cookstr.com|November 17, 2009|DAILY BEAST
These lamb burgers buzz with Greek flavors—garlic, oregano, and mint.
The Humble Burger Goes Glam|Katie Workman|June 30, 2009|DAILY BEAST
She smelled faintly of garlic, oregano and some kind of incense, maybe sandalwood.
Tinker's Dam|Joseph Tinker
Curumilla, after having washed the wounds with clean cold water, applied a cataplasm to them of bruised oregano leaves.
The Adventurers|Gustave Aimard
There is no danger of inflammation—nothing beats the oregano for preventing that, and you need not be afraid of fever.
Wood Rangers|Mayne Reid

British Dictionary definitions for oregano

oregano

/ (ˌɒrɪˈɡɑːnəʊ) /

noun

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

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

Word Origin for oregano

C18: American Spanish, from Spanish, from Latin orīganum, from Greek origanon an aromatic herb, perhaps marjoram

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