1
a
: an aromatic and usually oily and resinous substance flowing from various plants
especially
: any of several resinous substances containing benzoic or cinnamic acid and used especially in medicine
b
: a preparation containing resinous substances and having a balsamic odor
2
a
: a balsam-yielding tree
especially
: balsam fir
b
: impatiens
especially
: a common garden ornamental (Impatiens balsamina)
3
Examples of balsam in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ginger 1974 is a spicy, sassy blend, featuring ginger, fir balsam, suede and white musk.
—
Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
There’s also a trendy pink-gray combo, as well as a balsam green set that will add a fresh pop to any suitcase, duffel bag, or backpack.
—Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 3 Jan. 2024
Created by celebrated perfumer Arnaud Winter, the sophisticated fragrance opens with green pine needles, silver fir, and wild balsam but dries down to an earthy finish thanks to cedar and musk.
—Katie Chang, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
The candle features the perfect wintry scent combination of balsam and cedar, and comes with a wood lid that has an adorable snow globe attached.
—Enjanae' Taylor, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2023
Instead, many New Yorkers sidewalk-shop for their Christmas trees, buying from vendors who transform street corners into forests of fresh balsams, Fraser firs and other conifers.
—Alexandra E. Petri, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2023
Best fragrances for Scorpio: Eucalyptus, balsam, and fir needle notes capture the effortless yet powerful energy of this water sign.
—Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2023
This fragrance is spiked with notes of chestnut, clove oil, and balsam, a trio that perfectly embodies the holiday season.
—Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 22 Nov. 2023
It’s made of a blend of high-quality fragrance oils, featuring fruits like crisp citrus and red berry, rustic pine balsam, cedar, and sandalwood, plus warm vanilla, amber, and musk.
—Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 8 Oct. 2023
Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
There’s also a trendy pink-gray combo, as well as a balsam green set that will add a fresh pop to any suitcase, duffel bag, or backpack.
—Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 3 Jan. 2024
Created by celebrated perfumer Arnaud Winter, the sophisticated fragrance opens with green pine needles, silver fir, and wild balsam but dries down to an earthy finish thanks to cedar and musk.
—Katie Chang, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
The candle features the perfect wintry scent combination of balsam and cedar, and comes with a wood lid that has an adorable snow globe attached.
—Enjanae' Taylor, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2023
Instead, many New Yorkers sidewalk-shop for their Christmas trees, buying from vendors who transform street corners into forests of fresh balsams, Fraser firs and other conifers.
—Alexandra E. Petri, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2023
Best fragrances for Scorpio: Eucalyptus, balsam, and fir needle notes capture the effortless yet powerful energy of this water sign.
—Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2023
This fragrance is spiked with notes of chestnut, clove oil, and balsam, a trio that perfectly embodies the holiday season.
—Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 22 Nov. 2023
It’s made of a blend of high-quality fragrance oils, featuring fruits like crisp citrus and red berry, rustic pine balsam, cedar, and sandalwood, plus warm vanilla, amber, and musk.
—Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 8 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'balsam.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near balsam
Cite this Entry
“Balsam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/balsam. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
balsam
noun
bal·sam
ˈbȯl-səm 
1
a
: an aromatic and usually oily and resinous substance flowing from various plants
especially
: any of several resinous substances containing benzoic or cinnamic acid and used especially in medicine
b
: a preparation containing resinous substances and having a balsamic odor
2
: a balsam-yielding tree
3
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