stevia

American  

[stee-vee-uh, stev-ee-uh] / ˈsti vi ə, ˈstɛv i ə /

noun

1. a South American perennial shrub, Stevia rebaudiana, having small, white flowers and sweet-tasting leaves.

2. a noncaloric, powdered sweetener made from glycoside extracts of the leaves of this shrub.

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Etymology

Origin of stevia

1805–10; < New Latin, from the name of Petrus Jacobus Stevus (Pedro Jaime Esteve), died 1555, Spanish physician and botanist

Example Sentences

From early sweeteners like saccharin in the 19th century to modern alternatives such as stevia and monk fruit, the goal has remained the same.

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2026

It’s enhanced with maple syrup, vanilla and stevia, along with sea moss, organic coconut cream and an organic strawberry glaze.

From Salon • Sep. 17, 2024

Aspartame, for example, is about 200 times sweeter than sugar and costs more than saccharin, roughly the same as sucralose and less than stevia, a sweetener industry source said.

From Reuters • Jun. 29, 2023

The WHO guideline name-checked common artificial sweeteners such as acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives.

From Seattle Times • May 29, 2023

If you need it sweetened to drink it, use an artificial or herbal sweetener like nutrisweet or stevia.

From How and When to Be Your Own Doctor by Solomon, Steve