papaya

noun

pa·​pa·​ya pə-ˈpī-ə 

: a tropical American tree (Carica papaya of the family Caricaceae, the papaya family) having an oblong to globose yellow edible fruit with numerous black seeds in a central cavity

also : its fruit

Examples of papaya in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Transplant papaya seedlings to the landscape, keep moist and feed monthly. —Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2026

Choose foods and drinks that are sweet or tart to stimulate saliva (papaya and pineapple juice help stimulate saliva best). —CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026

Each textured pad is soaked in a mix of lactic acid (a gentle AHA) and enzyme exfoliants like papain (natural enzymes extracted from raw, unripe papaya) to dissolve dead skin, while the pad itself adds a bit of physical exfoliation. —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 Mar. 2026

The shampoo contains aloe vera, papaya extract, meadowfoam seed oil, and even caffeine, while the conditioner was deeply hydrating and made my hair shiny and soft. —Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish, borrowed from Taino papaya (or from a cognate Arawakan word)

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for papaya

• messiah
• nyaya
• pariah
• rupiah
• shariah
• vinaya
• gaia
• maia
• maya
• playa
• via
• jeremiah

Kids Definition

papaya

noun

pa·​pa·​ya pə-ˈpī-ə 

: an oblong edible yellow fruit with many black seeds that grows on a tropical American tree with large leaves

also : the tree

Medical Definition

papaya

noun

pa·​pa·​ya pə-ˈpī-ə 

: a tropical American tree of the genus Carica (C. papaya) with large oblong yellow edible fruit

also : its fruit which is the source of papain