potato

noun

po·​ta·​to pə-ˈtā-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce potato (audio)
-tə,
 dialectal  pə-ˈdā-,
bə- How to pronounce potato (audio)
plural potatoes
often attributive
1
2
a
: an erect South American herb (Solanum tuberosum) of the nightshade family widely cultivated for its edible starchy tuber
b
: the tuber of a potato

called also Irish potato, spud, white potato

Illustration of potato

Illustration of potato
  • potato 2a

Examples of potato in a Sentence

She's growing carrots and potatoes in her garden this year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At Flavor by Fire, chef Matt Lee will be serving up wood-fire longbeach mushrooms, alongside aji verde, cojita cheese, crispy potato, and cilantro. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025 Each salmon dish comes with rice, potatoes or pasta, depending on the dish, and vegetables. Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2025 Colorado potato beetles on your potatoes, a defoliated tomato branch (likely due to tomato hornworms), or some spotting on your zinnias are all easily visible. Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2025 Highlights include German food ranging from bratwurst with sauerkraut to potato salad and apple strudel and a Bavarian biergarten with various beers and wines along with stein-holding and yodeling contests. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for potato

Word History

Etymology

Spanish batata, from Taino

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of potato was in 1565

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Potato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potato. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

potato

noun
po·​ta·​to pə-ˈtāt-ō How to pronounce potato (audio) pət-ˈāt- How to pronounce potato (audio)
plural potatoes
1
2
a
: an erect South American herb widely cultivated for its thick starchy edible underground tubers
b
: one of these edible tubers

called also Irish potato, spud, white potato

More from Merriam-Webster on potato

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!