Illustration of laurel
- laurel 1
1
: an evergreen shrub or tree (Laurus nobilis of the family Lauraceae, the laurel family) of southern Europe with small yellow flowers, fruits that are ovoid blackish berries, and evergreen foliage once used by the ancient Greeks to crown victors in the Pythian games
called also bay, sweet bay
2
: a tree or shrub that resembles the true laurel
especially
: mountain laurel
3
a
: a crown of laurel awarded as an honor
b
: a recognition of achievement : honor
—usually used in plural
laureled or laurelled; laureling or laurelling
: to deck or crown with laurel
Examples of laurel in a Sentence
Noun
They enjoyed the laurels of their military victory.
The player earned his laurels from years of hard work.
Recent Examples on the Web
Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
As a result, the court gave the Metropolitan AME Church ownership of the trademark, giving them the right to deny use of the group's name and yellow or black laurel wreath symbol.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2025
But there are signs that the region might finally be emerging from behind the shadows of its California redwoods, bay laurels and Douglas firs.
—David Rosoff, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2025
Editor’s picks Recording Academy president and CEO Harvey Mason Jr., a Black man himself, has seemed exceedingly cognizant of these criticisms and attempted to keep the organization from resting on its decaying laurels.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2025
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Noun
The shirts also feature a laurel wreath, a symbol used by the Proud Boys.
—Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
As a result, the court gave the Metropolitan AME Church ownership of the trademark, giving them the right to deny use of the group's name and yellow or black laurel wreath symbol.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2025
But there are signs that the region might finally be emerging from behind the shadows of its California redwoods, bay laurels and Douglas firs.
—David Rosoff, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2025
Editor’s picks Recording Academy president and CEO Harvey Mason Jr., a Black man himself, has seemed exceedingly cognizant of these criticisms and attempted to keep the organization from resting on its decaying laurels.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laurel
Cite this Entry
“Laurel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laurel. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationBiographical Definition
Laurel
biographical name
Lau·rel
ˈlȯr-əl 
ˈlär-
Stan 1890–1965 born Arthur Stanley Jefferson British comic actor in U.S.
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