Definition

Noun: 1. A hard confection flavored with peppermint oil: A peppermint candy is a type of sweet, typically hard and often striped red and white, that derives its primary flavor from peppermint oil.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She offered me a peppermint candy after dinner.
  • The bowl on the counter was filled with peppermint candies.
  • I always keep a few peppermint candies in my bag.

Advanced Usage

• As a generic term for mint-flavored sweets: While often referring to the classic hard candy, the term can sometimes be used more broadly for other confections (like soft chews or chocolates) that are distinctly flavored with peppermint oil, not just any mint.
  • The holiday assortment included chocolates, toffees, and peppermint candies.

Variants and Related Words

• Peppermint (noun): The herb () from which the oil is derived, or the flavor itself.
  • I love the taste of peppermint in my tea.
• Mint candy (noun): A more general term for candy flavored with any type of mint, which may include spearmint or wintergreen, not exclusively peppermint.
• Candy cane (noun): A specific type of peppermint candy, hard and shaped like a walking stick, traditionally associated with Christmas.

Synonyms

• Mint (when context clearly refers to a candy)
• After-dinner mint

Notes on Meaning

The term specifically denotes the candy and its peppermint flavor. It is a compound noun where "peppermint" acts as an adjective describing the type of candy. The definition focuses on the confectionery item, not the plant or the oil in isolation.

Noun

1. a candy flavored with peppermint oil