ENGLISH
REFERENCE

marijuana

n.
US //ˌmɛɹəˈwɑnə// UK //mˌæɹɪwˈɑːnɐ// mar·i·jua·na
  1. 1 the drug (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the dried parts of the cannabis plant that people use as a drug.

    the dried inflorescence and leaves of the Cannabis sativa plant, typically smoked or ingested for its psychoactive effects.

    Example

    In some countries, it is legal to buy marijuana for medical reasons.

    Example

    The local government debated whether the tax revenue from legal marijuana sales would outweigh the potential social costs of increased consumption.
  2. 2 the plant (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the hemp plant that the drug comes from.

    the Cannabis sativa plant itself, specifically varieties cultivated for high THC content.

    Example

    The farmer was arrested for growing marijuana in his backyard.

    Example

    Botanists distinguish between industrial hemp and marijuana based on the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol present in the plant's resin.
Origin

Borrowed from Mexican Spanish marihuana, from mariguana. First attested in 1874 in the publications of Hubert Howe Bancroft. Altered by influence of a folk etymology involving the proper name María Juana (“Mary Jane”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 19, 2026