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Definition of sweetvetch
sweetvetch
/ˈswiːt.vɛtʃ/
sweet · vetch
Plural:sweetvetches
sweetvetch Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of various leguminous plants of the genus Hedysarum, native to the Northern Hemisphere, characterized by pinnate leaves and clusters of pink, purple, or whitish pea-like flowers. They are often cultivated for forage, wildlife habitat, and soil conservation.
Example
"The botanist identified the bright pink blooms along the rocky alpine trail as northern sweetvetch, noting its importance as a food source for local wildlife."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for sweetvetchWord Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'sweet' and 'vetch', referring to the sweet-smelling flowers or palatable nature of these leguminous plants compared to standard wild vetches.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sweetvetch. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sweetvetch