root beer

American  

noun

root beers plural

1. a carbonated beverage flavored with syrup made from the extracted juices of roots, barks, and herbs that have been fermented with sugar and yeast.

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root beer British  

noun

1. an effervescent drink made from extracts of various roots and herbs

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• root beers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of root beer

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Compare meaning

How does root-beer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• birch beer vs. root beer

Example Sentences

The broth is still at the center of all things La Mer: Past celebrations have involved “broth-tinis,” which are just cocktails made to resemble the opal liquid with its root beer smell.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Twig's also makes its own-name range of fruit sodas, from root beer to black cherry, and orange to lime.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

“Back then he drank root beer floats,” Schallock said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2024

However, as early as 1898, competing Barq’s root beer was made from sarsaparilla, so the terms became readily interchangeable, especially since many root beer recipes actually use both.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 14, 2023

He’s drinking a bottle of root beer, drifting off into outer space.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold