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

Esters, organic compounds formed when acids, typically lactic or acetic, react with alcohol, contribute to floral, fruity, and tropical aromas, especially banana, pineapple, and pear. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025

The riper the banana, the sweeter the flavor, so just a small amount of Date 2.0 syrup (page 2) is needed. —Michael Greger, Flow Space, 24 Apr. 2025

Deinosuchus was one of the largest crocodilians that ever lived, with a body nearly as long as a bus and teeth the size of bananas. —Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025

According to the International Fresh Produce Association, the 20 most commonly purchased fruits in the U.S. include bananas, strawberries, apples, grapes, watermelon, cherries and oranges. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 22 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