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Definition of nepeta

nepeta

/ˈnɛp.ɪ.tə/
nep · e · ta
Plural:nepetas
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nepeta Lexical Profile

nepeta Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A genus of herbaceous aromatic plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, commonly known as catmints and widely cultivated for their ornamental foliage, medicinal properties, and intense attraction to cats.

Example

"The gardener planted a border of nepeta to attract pollinators and deter deer from the flowerbed."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for nepeta

• Nearby Words

nepal
nepean
nepenthes
nepeta
nephrolepis
neretva
nerine

Word Origin & Etymology

From Latin 'nepeta', the word for catnip, traditionally believed to be named after the ancient Etruscan city of Nepete (modern Nepi, Italy), where it was reportedly cultivated.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Nepeta. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/nepeta
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