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

See Examples For:

root beer

It wasn’t like today’s full-menu A&W restaurants—it sold root beer only, made fresh on the premises.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 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

Usually he’d need a couple, sometimes Sprite, sometimes root beer.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 26, 2023

We leaned up against the crates and passed the now-warm root beer back and forth.

From "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" by emily m. danforth