eggplant

noun

egg·​plant ˈeg-ˌplant 

ˈāg-

1

a

: a widely cultivated perennial Asian herb (Solanum melongena) of the nightshade family yielding edible fruit

b

: the usually smooth ovoid typically blackish-purple or white fruit of the eggplant

2

: a dark grayish or blackish purple

Examples of eggplant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If tomatoes, or other members of the same plant family such as eggplant, potatoes, and peppers, suffered from diseases in a planting spot, do not plant there again the next year. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2025

These fruits are among a group of plants known as nightshades, which also includes eggplant, potatoes, and peppers. —Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Health, 30 Mar. 2025

One slice was vegetarian, thickly layered with masala sauce, paneer, spinach, and eggplant, plus garlic, ginger, green onions, and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro. —Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025

Don't plant corn or cabbage next to tomatoes, no eggplants or cucumbers next to potatoes, and no peppers next to cabbage. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing eggplant

• Japanese eggplant

Rhymes for eggplant

• decant
• descant
• enchant
• explant
• implant
• preplant
• recant
• replant
• secant
• supplant
• transplant
• ant

Kids Definition

eggplant

noun

egg·​plant -ˌplant 

1

: a widely cultivated herb that is related to the potato and yields edible fruit

2

: the usually glossy blackish purple egg-shaped fruit of an eggplant