parsley

noun

pars·​ley ˈpär-slē How to pronounce parsley (audio)
: a European biennial herb (Petroselinum crispum) of the carrot family widely grown for its finely dissected curly or flat leaves which are used as an herb or garnish
also : the leaves

Examples of parsley 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.
Preliminary investigations into North Carolina’s outbreak suggest parsley and cilantro could be behind those cases. — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 24 July 2026 Give your appetizer spread a refresh with this no-cook dip made with canned chickpeas, tuna, lemon juice, anchovies, red onion, and parsley. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 23 July 2026 Bistro classics like leeks vinaigrette, garlic-parsley frog legs, sea bream carpaccio, chicken supreme with morels, and chateaubriand round out the comforting menu. — Devorah Lev-Tov, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2026 This is why in some cases, such as the most recent outbreak in 2024 attributed to parsley, a single grower, manufacturer or distributor is never identified. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for parsley

Word History

Etymology

Middle English persely, from Old English petersilie, from Vulgar Latin *petrosilium, alteration of Latin petroselinum, from Greek petroselinon, from petros stone + selinon celery

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of parsley was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing parsley

Rhymes for parsley

See All Rhymes for parsley

Browse Nearby Words

pars legitima
parsley
parsley camphor
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

parsley

noun
pars·​ley ˈpär-slē How to pronounce parsley (audio)
plural parsleys
: a European herb related to the carrot and widely grown for its finely divided leaves which are used to season or decorate foods
also : the leaves

Medical Definition

parsley

noun
pars·​ley ˈpär-slē How to pronounce parsley (audio)
: a southern European annual or biennial herb (Petroselinum crispum) of the carrot family having leaves which are used as a culinary herb or garnish and a root and seeds which have been used medicinally

More from Merriam-Webster on parsley

Nglish: Translation of parsley for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about parsley

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