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.
This fragrance features bergamot, sea salt, and vetiver, offering a light, breezy, and clean scent with hints of citrus and an anchoring woody note. — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 26 Aug. 2026 Citruses, like bergamot and orange rind, give vanilla a bright and airy lightness, whereas aromatic notes, like lavender and geranium, smell like a garden growing around vanilla orchid vines. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026 Edition Hotels has captured its signature scent in this delicious candle, with notes of black tea, earthy patchouli, cedarwood, warm musk, bergamot, and more. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026 Or, Trizzino suggests a touch of bergamot to capture a carbonated snap. — Loren Savini, Allure, 13 Aug. 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 30 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bergamot

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bergamot

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