peppermint
Americannoun
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peppermints
plural
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an herb, Mentha piperita, of the mint family, cultivated for its aromatic, pungent oil.
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Also called peppermint oil. this oil, or a preparation made from it.
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a lozenge or confection flavored with peppermint.
noun
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a temperate mint plant, Mentha piperita, with purple or white flowers: cultivated for its downy leaves, which yield a pungent oil
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the oil from this plant, which is used as a flavouring
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a sweet flavoured with peppermint
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of peppermint
Explanation
Peppermint is the familiar aromatic flavoring you'll find in toothpaste, gum, and those round, red and white candies that your grandmother always keeps in a little china bowl on her coffee table. Peppermint, the most common type of mint plant, has fresh, fragrant leaves, and the word peppermint is also the name of an oil extracted from those leaves. The oil and leaves of the peppermint plant are used in many products, including ice cream, tea, and shampoo. The word peppermint was coined in the 17th century, from pepper and mint, probably inspired by its "spicy," tingling flavor.
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.
See Examples For:
You may have to hold off on your first taste of Starbucks’ peppermint mocha this year.
From Salon ● Nov. 13, 2025
"You immediately feel unsafe," Hannah tells me, eyes wide as she grips a mug of peppermint tea in her living room.
From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2025
The aromas the team tested on participants were vanilla, almond, lemon, lemon myrtle, eucalyptus, peppermint, vinegar and lemongrass.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 18, 2024
Nearby is the burgundy drum kit used by Radiohead to record its 1997 breakthrough album, “OK Computer,” sitting only inches from a peppermint candy-swirled set of drums from the White Stripes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2024
He likes those peppermint things last the live-long day, and thinks everybody else does too.
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
Lee received a package marked only with her name and address; it contained the pills, tea bags, peppermints, maxipads, prescription ibuprofen and nausea medication.
From New York Times ● Apr. 28, 2020
I had underestimated his lyricism, but I didn’t realize my mistake until the peppermints and Shar-Peis began exiting the picture.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 23, 2019
He buys Rice Krispies bars for the kids and keeps peppermints on hand for sore throats and upset tummies.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 3, 2016
I took handfuls of Dum Dum pops, peppermints, butterscotch and those strawberry candies with the gooey middle that grandmothers always have.
From Salon ● Jan. 5, 2013
Her hair was tied with a bright colored handkerchief, and Stuart noticed that she carried a box of peppermints in her hand.
From "Stuart Little" by E.B. White
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.
