banana

noun

ba·​nana bə-ˈna-nə 

 especially British  -ˈnä-

1

: an elongated usually tapering tropical fruit with soft pulpy flesh enclosed in a soft usually yellow rind

a bunch of bananas

slipped on a banana peel

2

: any of several widely cultivated perennial often treelike herbs (genus Musa of the family Musaceae, the banana family) bearing bananas in compact pendent bunches

Illustration of banana

• banana 2

Examples of banana in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

McMillon said tariffs on countries including Costa Rica, Peru, and Colombia could affect the price of some perishable items sold at Walmart, including bananas, avocados, coffee, and roses. —Rachel Barber, USA Today, 22 May 2025

Foods like sweet potatoes, avocados, leafy greens, acorn squash, and salmon offer more potassium than a banana. —Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 20 May 2025

Last week, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told investors that despite the company’s attempts to hold the line, tariffs would result in higher prices in coming weeks, especially on items including bananas, avocados, coffee and roses that primarily come from other countries. —Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025

Burch’s padded Miller and Kira Sport sandals nod to their puffy-soft marshmallows in banana, strawberry and vanilla colors, and Tory’s personal favorite candies from salty licorice twists to sour fish inspired the earrings and charms. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 20 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish or Portuguese; Spanish, from Portuguese, of African origin; akin to Wolof banaana banana

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing banana

• banana bread
• banana clip
• banana oil
• banana pepper
• banana republic
• banana seat
• banana split
• second banana
• slip on a banana skin/peel
• top banana

Rhymes for banana

• arana
• arcana
• bandana
• bandanna
• brahmana
• cabana
• campana
• diana
• fianna
• hosanna
• hyaena
• lantana

Kids Definition

banana

noun

ba·​nana bə-ˈnan-ə 

: a treelike tropical plant with large leaves and flower clusters that develop into a bunch of finger-shaped fruit which are usually yellow when ripe

also : its fruit