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:
Daily peppermint oil may offer a simple way to reduce mildly elevated blood pressure, according to new research.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026
It has lemon verbena, lemongrass, rose, hibiscus flower, tulsi and peppermint.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
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
She was so close Virgil could smell her peppermint gum.
From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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
During the rainy Christmas season, Mr. Kaine accompanied Father Patricio as ecstatic children in rural towns greeted their mules in anticipation of getting gifts of peppermints.
From New York Times ● Sep. 2, 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
“What? Hello, but I’m afraid I don’t have any more peppermints, dear.”
From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland
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.
