peppermint
Americannoun
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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
Alternatives to chemical-based sprays or creams include repellents with plant-based ingredients such as citronella, lavender and peppermint.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2024
Menthol is a naturally occurring cyclic monoterpene alcohol found in various plants, particularly in members of the mint family such as peppermint and spearmint.
From Science Daily ● May 15, 2024
Her hair was covered in a black hair net, her face coated in a cream that smelled of peppermint, which he had always liked.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Her light pinches and offers of peppermints to win silence during church services.
From Seattle Times ● May 28, 2022
Her connection to them was obvious at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s summer farm here when she had Brickbat and My Teddy Bear — former racehorses — curtsying to her for peppermints and nuzzles.
From New York Times ● Aug. 31, 2021
He texted Kelly, asking if she had peppermints to try to curb the discomfort.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 20, 2020
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
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.
