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• rosemary
  rosemary

  noun

  an evergreen shrub, Rosmarinus officinalis, of the mint family, native to the Mediterranean region, having leathery, narrow leaves and pale-blue, bell-shaped flowers, used as a seasoning and in perfumery and medicine: a traditional symbol of remembrance.
• Rosemary
  Rosemary

  noun

  a female given name.

rosemary

¹ American  

[rohz-mair-ee, -muh-ree] / ˈroʊzˌmɛər i, -mə ri /

noun

rosemaries plural

1. an evergreen shrub, Rosmarinus officinalis, of the mint family, native to the Mediterranean region, having leathery, narrow leaves and pale-blue, bell-shaped flowers, used as a seasoning and in perfumery and medicine: a traditional symbol of remembrance.

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Rosemary ² American  

[rohz-mair-ee, -muh-ree] / ˈroʊzˌmɛər i, -mə ri /

noun

1. a female given name.

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rosemary British  

/ ˈrəʊzmərɪ /

noun

1. an aromatic European shrub, Rosmarinus officinalis , widely cultivated for its grey-green evergreen leaves, which are used in cookery for flavouring and yield a fragrant oil used in the manufacture of perfumes: family Lamiaceae (labiates). It is the traditional flower of remembrance

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• rosemaries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of rosemary

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English rose mary (by folk etymology, influenced by rose ¹ and the name Mary ), from Latin rōs “dew” + marīnus “marine,” or rōs maris “dew of the sea” (in English the final -s mistaken for plural sign)

Example Sentences

He grows about 60 different crops, including herbs such as rosemary and thyme, heirloom tomatoes and cucumbers, and pick-your-own strawberries and flowers.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

I joyfully practice “urban foraging,” picking blackberries in the Presidio, collecting rosemary and ginkgo nuts under street trees, harvesting apples at the invitation of the trees’ vacationing owners.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

Depending on the season, fields are filled with a variety of greens, cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes and peppers, while herbs like basil, black sage, rosemary and marjoram perfume the gardens.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

Herbs: Specifically, thyme, tarragon and rosemary — aromatic herbs that go well in almost any savory dish.

From Salon • Feb. 26, 2026

“Going to be a cold one today,” Dad says as he chops the rosemary.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish