vegetal

American

[vej-i-tl] / ˈvɛdʒ ɪ tl /

adjective

of, relating to, or of the nature of plants or vegetables.
vegetative.

vegetal British

/ ˈvɛdʒɪtəl /

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of vegetables or plant life
of or relating to processes in plants and animals that do not involve sexual reproduction; vegetative

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of vegetal

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin veget ( āre ) to quicken ( vegetate ) + -al -al ¹

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.

Iceberg barely registers as flavor, but its crunch delivers deep satisfaction, especially the white core, which, when fresh, pops with subtle moisture like vegetal Pop Rocks.

From Salon • May 26, 2025

The slight bitterness and vegetal quality of the peppers helps to balance the sugars.

From Washington Times • Jun. 29, 2023

Crisp and fresh, but thick with scents: trees, soil, lichens, slow and organic growth, vegetal decomposition.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 28, 2023

There are also chile liqueurs, such as Ancho Reyes’ Original ancho and its Verde, the former sweet and smoky, the latter retaining more of the raw poblano chile’s green vegetal notes.

From Washington Post • Apr. 20, 2023

I ask his mouth, remembering, despite the fact that my IQ is approaching the vegetal range, that he too must have a name.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023