Origin: Latin suffix -al
Botanical has 4 different meanings across 2 categories:
a drug made from part of a plant (as the bark or root or leaves)
"The doctor prescribed a botanical to help soothe his stomach after eating spoiled food."
Something derived from a botanical, especially herbal, source
"The company markets its new skincare line as purely botanical, emphasizing that every ingredient is derived directly from herbs and plants."
In plain English: A botanical is not actually a word; you probably meant to ask for an adjective describing anything related to plants.
"The botanical was identified by her expertise in plant life."
Of or pertaining to botany; relating to the study of plants.
"The botanical department at the university specializes in cataloging rare species found in tropical rainforests."
In plain English: Botanical means relating to plants and how they grow.
"The botanical garden features rare plants from all over the world."
Usage: Use "botanical" as an adjective specifically when describing something related to plant biology rather than simply made from herbs. This term is often confused with culinary descriptors like "herbal," but it strictly refers to scientific classification and characteristics of flora.
The word botanical combines the root from botany with the suffix -ical to describe things related to plants or plant science. It entered English as a straightforward formation meant to specify matters concerning the study of vegetation.