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

At his stand, customers will also find banana pudding made by Scratch Family Bakery in Five Points. —Sara Rosenthal, The Denver Post, 5 Nov. 2024

It’s known for its array of dessert specialties, namely its 12 fruit cobblers, 12 types of banana puddings, 24 types of cookies, 12 cobbler milkshakes, 6 different cinnamon rolls and brownies. —Gary Stern, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

To make this snack, cut two ripe bananas into one-quarter of an inch thick discs. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Nov. 2024

At 69 years old, the two-time Oscar winner had the internet going bananas when the trailer for the upcoming Gladiator II dropped back in July. —Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024

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