guava

noun

gua·​va ˈgwä-və 

1

: any of several tropical American shrubs or small trees (genus Psidium) of the myrtle family

especially : a shrubby tree (P. guajava) widely cultivated for its yellow-skinned fruit with sweet acid yellow or pink flesh

2

: the roundish to pear-shaped fruit of a guava

Did you know?

This is any of many trees and shrubs of a genus that is native to the New World tropics. The two important species are common guava and cattley, or strawberry, guava. The sweet pulp of the common guava fruit has a musky, sometimes pungent odor. The pulp of the strawberry guava fruit has a strawberry-like flavor. Guavas are processed into jams, jellies, and preserves. Fresh guavas are rich in vitamins A, B, and C. They are eaten raw, sliced, and are often served in desserts.

Examples of guava in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The club lounge is well worth the upgrade, with beef noodle soup and black sesame croissants at breakfast, hojicha scones with Taiwanese pink guava jam for afternoon tea, and an outdoor terrace that feels like an urban oasis. —Amber Gibson, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025

Reach for foods rich in vitamin C, such as guava, kiwifruit, oranges, strawberries, and yellow bell peppers, and those high in zinc, such as seeds, nuts, and legumes. —Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 13 Jan. 2025

Raised partly in the Dominican Republic, Velez’s recipes for treats like tres leches cake and guava and cheese pastelitos are nods to the country’s traditional desserts. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2024

Made from additive-free rum mixed with real fruit juices (think tropical, like guava, lime, and lychee), natural sugar and coloring from vegetable juice, the line currently offers three rum drinks and one gin cocktail. —Jeanne O'Brien Coffey, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish guaba, guayaba, perhaps from Taino

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing guava

• pineapple guava

Kids Definition

guava

noun

gua·​va ˈgwäv-ə 

: the sweet acid yellow-skinned fruit of a shrubby tropical American tree of the myrtle family

also : a tree that produces guavas and is widely grown in cultivation