bergamot

noun

ber·​ga·​mot ˈbər-gə-ˌmät How to pronounce bergamot (audio)
plural bergamots
1
a
: a round to pear-shaped citrus fruit of a Mediterranean tree (Citrus bergamia synonym C. aurantium bergamia) that has a yellow to green rind which yields a bitter, fragrant essential oil and that is typically considered to be a hybrid of a sour orange and a lemon
b(1)
: a tree that bears bergamots
(2)
: the essential oil derived from a bergamot
2
: any of several mints (genus Monarda) see also wild bergamot

Examples of bergamot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Infused with notes of black pepper, amber, patchouli, bergamot and vetiver, Portofino ’97 marked Victoria Beckham Beauty’s inaugural foray into fragrance. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 July 2026 Commodity Rain follows in these iconic scents’ footprints with a splash of bergamot, lotus, and meditative musks. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 15 July 2026 Featuring top notes of orange, bergamot, and lemon mixed with honeyed florals and the essence of musk, cedarwood, and sandalwood, each item leaves behind a clean, calming, slightly herbaceous scent. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 13 July 2026 For a creamier take, DedCool’s XtraMilk Eau de Parfum is a 2024 Best of Beauty Award winner that layers bergamot over soft white musk and amber for a cozy skin-like scent that lingers close to the body. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bergamot

Word History

Etymology

French bergamote, from Italian bergamotta, modification of Turkish bey armudu, literally, the bey's pear

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bergamot was in 1600

Phrases Containing bergamot

Browse Nearby Words

Bergamo
bergamot
bergamot camphor
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bergamot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bergamot. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bergamot

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bergamot

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