celery

noun

cel·​ery ˈse-lə-rē How to pronounce celery (audio)
ˈsel-rē
plural celeries
: a European herb (Apium graveolens) of the carrot family
specifically : one of a cultivated variety (A. graveolens var. dulce) with leafstalks eaten raw or cooked

Examples of celery 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.
Aggressive spiciness throughout, most notably in our favorite entree, Ma La Chile Prawns, stir fried with Sichuan peppercorns, garlic, ginger and julienned Chinese celery. — Connie Ogle july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 Keeping celery watered thoroughly could cause fungal infections or root rot in your pepper plants. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 July 2026 Refreshing and packed with vitamins and minerals, celery juice might seem like the ideal drink to get you through the sweltering days of summer. — Lauren O'Connor, Health, 28 July 2026 The Lavish Habits — gin or vodka with coconut cream, orange blossom, celery bitters, lemon and lime topped with a sprig of fresh dill, $15 — is my new favorite summer cocktail. — Beth Rankin, Denver Post, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for celery

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French céleri (17th-century celeris, sceleri, Middle French scellerin), borrowed from an Upper Italian form (as Ligurian sèlarʼu, Lombard sèleri), altered from Vulgar Latin *selinum (Late Latin selīnon), borrowed from Greek sélīnon, perhaps from a pre-Greek substratal language

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of celery was in 1664

Phrases Containing celery

Browse Nearby Words

celerity
celery
celery blight
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Cite this Entry

“Celery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/celery. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

celery

noun
cel·​ery ˈsel-(ə-)rē How to pronounce celery (audio)
plural celeries
: a European herb related to the carrot and widely grown for the thick edible stems
also : the stems of celery used for food

More from Merriam-Webster on celery

Nglish: Translation of celery for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about celery

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