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

Some of his favorite foods include blueberries, avocados, bananas, hamburgers and shrimp. —Jordan Greene, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025

What actually concerns him are the bananas theories people spread about him. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 12 Feb. 2025

Key Ingredients: Coconut cream, banana, mango butter Sulfate-Free: Yes Best For: Designed to treat damaged hair of all types and textures, the creamy formulation hydrates the hair while reducing frizz, split ends, and breakage. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2025

Oatmeal, mushrooms, pasta noodles, beans, spinach, bananas and whole-wheat bread also contain the mineral. —Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 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

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