What does labiate mean?
Labiate is chiefly a botanical term with two related uses. As a noun, it refers to a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, which includes familiar plants such as mint, sage, thyme, basil, and rosemary. This family was formerly called Labiatae, a name based on the Latin word for the lip. As an adjective, labiate describes something having a lip, resembling a lip, or—especially in botany—having a two-lipped corolla. The term can also describe certain insect or anatomical structures with liplike parts. Although its meaning is not difficult to understand, labiate is specialized and most often encountered in scientific descriptions, plant identification, and historical botanical literature. Recognizing it is useful because it connects the appearance of many mint-family flowers with the word's Latin-derived name and with the older scientific name Labiatae for the group.
A plant belonging to the mint family, Lamiaceae, formerly called Labiatae.
"Several culinary herbs commonly classified as labiates grow well in containers."
This use is most common in botanical and horticultural writing.
Having, resembling, or characterized by a lip or lips; in botany, having a two-lipped corolla.
"The botanist noted the flower's labiate shape and fragrant foliage."
The adjective has specialized botanical and zoological uses and is uncommon in general speech.
Used for multiple members of the mint family.
"Many labiates are both ornamental and valuable to pollinating insects."
Labiate is a botanical name that points straight to the lips: the mint family's flowers often have distinctly two-lipped shapes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of labiate
English borrowed the word from Latin labiatus, meaning “having lips” or “lipped,” which was formed from labium, “lip.” Early modern usage applied the term botanically to flowers with distinctly lip-shaped structures, and it was later used for members of the family once called Labiatae. Related English words include labial and bilabiate, both developed from the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How labiate is actually used
The word is principally used in botanical, entomological, and anatomical contexts. Outside those fields it is uncommon and may sound literary or technical.
Easily confused with labiate
Labial means relating to the lips or articulation involving them, whereas labiate means lip-shaped or, as a noun, a member of the mint family.
A bilabiate sound is made with both lips, while a labiate flower or structure is described as having a lip or lips.