# herbal

/ˈɝbəɫ/ (US) · /hˈɜːbəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. made from plants

adjective · CEFR B1

made from or containing herbs, especially for flavor or health.

For teachers: pertaining to or consisting of herbs; often used to distinguish plant-based products from synthetic ones.

- I usually drink herbal tea in the evening because it has no caffeine.
- The pharmacy stocks a wide range of herbal remedies, though the pharmacist advises patients to consult a doctor before starting any new treatment.

### 2. a plant-based supplement

noun · CEFR B2

a pill or medicine made from plants rather than chemicals.

For teachers: a dietary supplement or medicinal preparation derived from plant sources.

- She takes a daily herbal to help her sleep better at night.
- The patient was asked to list all herbals and vitamins they were currently taking to avoid potential drug interactions.

### 3. a book about plants

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

an old book that describes plants and how to use them for medicine.

For teachers: a book containing the names and descriptions of plants, usually with information on their medicinal properties.

- The museum has a famous 16th-century herbal with beautiful drawings of flowers.
- Medieval herbals often blended accurate botanical observation with folklore and superstition regarding the healing powers of roots and leaves.

## Examples

- I like to drink herbal tea before bed.
- The chef added a blend of herbal oils to the salad to enhance its fresh, earthy flavor.
- While modern medicine relies on synthetic compounds, many traditional cultures still depend on herbal remedies passed down through generations to treat common ailments.

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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.