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

Covered balconies, kitchenettes, and weekend breakfasts of banana pancakes and quiches round out the Southern charm. —Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2025

The chocolate chip brownie and peanut butter banana chocolate chip bars are gluten-free, non-GMO, free of dairy and artificial ingredients or dyes and colored by nature. —Ashley J. Dimella Fox News, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Next up was Jelly’s favorite snack, a peanut butter dough cookie bite with sliced bananas. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025

Cut the carrots, chayote and green banana into 2-inch chunks. —Vicky Hallett, NPR, 1 Apr. 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