maraschino

noun

mar·​a·​schi·​no ˌma-rə-ˈskē-(ˌ)nō How to pronounce maraschino (audio) -ˈshē- How to pronounce maraschino (audio)
ˌmer-ə-
variants often Maraschino
plural maraschinos
1
: a sweet liqueur distilled from the fermented juice of a bitter wild cherry
2
: a usually large cherry preserved in true or imitation maraschino

Examples of maraschino in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cut into squares and garnish each with a maraschino cherry, if desired. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026 Wood tannins hit first, followed by maraschino cherry (perhaps less medicinal here). — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2026 Add 4 ounces lime juice, 3 ounces grapefruit juice, 1 ounce maraschino liqueur, 1 ounce simple syrup, and 1 ounce water to account for the dilution that would normally come from shaking. — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 13 June 2026 Cookbook author Cheryl Day swaps in deeply flavorful Luxardo cherries for the usual neon maraschinos, bringing a richer, almost winey sweetness that plays off the bright tang of pineapple. — Cheryl Day, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for maraschino

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from marasca bitter wild cherry, alteration of amarasca, from amaro bitter — more at amaretto

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of maraschino was in 1770

Rhymes for maraschino

See All Rhymes for maraschino

Browse Nearby Words

marasca
maraschino
Marasmius
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Maraschino.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maraschino. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

maraschino

noun
mar·​a·​schi·​no ˌmar-ə-ˈskē-nō How to pronounce maraschino (audio) -ˈshē- How to pronounce maraschino (audio)
plural maraschinos
often capitalized
1
: a sweet alcoholic drink made from the juice of a bitter wild cherry
2
: a cherry preserved in true or imitation maraschino

More from Merriam-Webster on maraschino

Nglish: Translation of maraschino for Spanish Speakers

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