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Definition of schisandra
schisandra
/ʃɪˈzæn.drə/
schi · san · dra
Plural:schisandras
schisandra Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A genus of twining shrubs native to East Asia and North America, notable for producing medicinal berries often used in traditional herbal medicine.
Example
"The practitioner recommended an herbal tincture containing schisandra to help combat physical stress and fatigue."
2
The red berry produced by plants of this genus, characterized by a complex taste profile comprising sweet, salty, bitter, pungent, and sour flavors.
Example
"Dried schisandra is frequently brewed into a vibrant red tea with a highly distinctive, tart flavor."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for schisandra• Rhymes for schisandra
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in Modern Latin from Greek 'skhizein' (to split) and 'anēr, andr-' (man, denoting a stamen in botany), referring to the cleft anther lobes of the flowers.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Schisandra. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/schisandra