# botanical

/bəˈtænɪkəɫ/ (US) · /bətˈænɪkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/botanical
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. related to plant science

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

relating to the scientific study of plants.

For teachers: pertaining to the science of botany or the biological study of plant life.

- The city is famous for its beautiful botanical gardens.
- The university's botanical collection contains rare specimens gathered from across the tropical archipelago during the nineteenth century.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun.

### 2. plant-based substance

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a substance or ingredient that comes from a plant, often used in medicine or cooking.

For teachers: a substance, such as an extract or essential oil, derived from a plant source for use in pharmacology, cosmetics, or food production.

- This gin is flavoured with a secret mix of botanical ingredients.
- The skincare formula relies on potent botanicals rather than synthetic chemicals to soothe sensitive skin.

Teaching tip: In modern marketing, especially for drinks and cosmetics, this is often used as a more sophisticated synonym for 'plant extracts'.

## Examples

- The garden is full of rare botanical specimens.
- She prefers botanical skincare products because they contain natural plant extracts.
- The museum's botanical collection features pressed flowers and detailed illustrations of rare species from the Amazon rainforest.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.