'sagebrush' originates from the English words 'sage' and 'brush', where 'sage' refers to the aromatic herb and 'brush' refers to a dense growth of shrubs.

'sagebrush' has been used in English since the 19th century to describe the plant species Artemisia tridentata.

Initially, it referred specifically to the plant, but over time it has also come to describe the regions where it grows.