gooseberry

noun

goose·​ber·​ry ˈgüs-ˌber-ē 

ˈgüz-,

-b(ə-)rē,

 chiefly British  ˈgu̇z-

1

a

: the acid usually prickly fruit of any of several shrubs (genus Ribes, especially R. hirtellum of the U.S. and R. uva-crispa of Europe) grouped especially formerly in the saxifrage family but now often placed in a separate family (Grossulariaceae, the gooseberry family)

b

: a shrub bearing gooseberries

2

: currant sense 2

Illustration of gooseberry

• leaves and fruit

Examples of gooseberry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are often herbaceous qualities, such as gooseberry, fresh-cut grass, or green bell pepper. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025

Excavations of sites in Wyoming have shown that the Chinese population there grew crops as varied as carrots, gooseberries, eggplant, and pumpkin, and raised chickens, pigs, and goats; some even had horses. —Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025

Beautiful flavors that include nectarines, grapefruit, gooseberries, pineapple, menthol and golden syrup. —Tom Mullen, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025

Standout ingredients responsible for these benefits include bamboo sap water, green tea extract, gooseberry, and jackfruit extract — forming a natural dream team of sorts. —Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing gooseberry

• Cape gooseberry
• Chinese gooseberry

Rhymes for gooseberry

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids Definition

gooseberry

noun

goose·​ber·​ry ˈgüs-ˌber-ē 

ˈgüz-

: the acid usually prickly fruit of any of several shrubs related to the currant