What does "parsley" mean?
A bright green, biennial herb, Petroselinum crispum, having many cultivars.
Parsley
/ˈpɑː(ɹ)sli/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A bright green, biennial herb, Petroselinum crispum, having many cultivars.
- Grammar: parsley is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: aromatic herb, condiment, culinary herb, herb.
- Usage evidence: In this time of the year the roadsides are in full bloom. You can find there, for example, a lot of cow parsley, rapeseed, and dandelions.
How to use "parsley"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "parsley" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "parsley" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "parsley" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "parsley" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "parsley" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "aromatic herb" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "parsley", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A bright green, biennial herb, Petroselinum crispum, having many cultivars. countable, uncountable, usually
"Though the parsley seemed to have died, outside it started to regenerate. New crimped leaves came free from the sprigs and spread."
- 2 aromatic herb with flat or crinkly leaves that are cut finely and used to garnish food wordnet
- 3 The leaves of this plant used in Middle Eastern, European, and American cooking. uncountable, usually
- 4 annual or perennial herb with aromatic leaves wordnet
- 5 Any herb resembling parsley, such as cilantro (Chinese parsley) or chervil (French parsley). broadly, uncountable, usually
Verb
- 1 To add parsley to. transitive
"Put a layer of mashed potato on one side and also on the other after peppering, salting and finely-chopped parsleying it to taste."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from Old French. countable, uncountable
- 2 An unincorporated community in Mingo County, West Virginia, United States. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"In this time of the year the roadsides are in full bloom. You can find there, for example, a lot of cow parsley, rapeseed, and dandelions."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "parsley"?
Common synonyms include: aromatic herb, condiment, culinary herb, herb, pepper, petroselinum crispum.
How do you use "parsley" in a sentence?
In this time of the year the roadsides are in full bloom. You can find there, for example, a lot of cow parsley, rapeseed, and dandelions.
How do you pronounce "parsley"?
Pronounced /ˈpɑː(ɹ)sli/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English persely, from Old French peresil, from Latin petroselīnum, from Ancient Greek πετροσέλῑνον (petrosélīnon, “parsley”), from πέτρος (pétros, “rock, stone”) + σέλῑνον (sélīnon, “celery”). Displaced Old English petersiliġe, which goes back to the same root.
Etymology 2
Altered form, later assimilated by folk etymology to the herb name parsley, of the medieval family name Passelewe, from Old French passer (“to pass”) + la (“the”) + ewe (“water”), probably a nickname for a ferryman or a person who travelled overseas.