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⇱ BITTERROOT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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bitterroot

noun

bit·​ter·​root ˈbi-tər-ˌrüt 👁 How to pronounce bitterroot (audio)
ˈbi-tə-, 
-ˌru̇t
: a succulent herb (Lewisia rediviva) of the purslane family that grows in western North America and has starchy roots and pink or white flowers

Examples of bitterroot 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.
With the right timing, travelers will be able to see a variety of blooms, including lupine, glacial lilies, and bitterroot, which is the state flower. —👁 Image
Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2025 Previous proposals were shut down by federal courts over threats to groundwater and a rare plant called Sacajawea’s bitterroot, according to reporting by The Associated Press and Idaho News 6. —👁 Image
Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 21 Mar. 2025 The bitterroot is Montana's state flower. —👁 Image
Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bitterroot was in 1838

Rhymes for bitterroot

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Cite this Entry

“Bitterroot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bitterroot. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

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