rutabaga

noun

ru·​ta·​ba·​ga ˌrü-tə-ˈbā-gə 

ˌru̇-,

-ˈbe-;

ˈrü-tə-ˌbā-,

ˈru̇-,

-ˌbe-

: a turnip (Brassica napus var. napobrassica) that usually produces a large yellowish root that is eaten as a vegetable

also : the root

Examples of rutabaga in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The pupils became professionals and have kept the orchestra going since, performing today with peppers, potatoes, swedes (the British equivalent of rutabaga) and carrot recorders. —Janine Henni, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025

There was lentil and kale soup with crunchy, buttery croutons; broccoli-fennel soup inspired, Carreño says, by one that Gino Angelini makes at Osteria Angelini; and an Italian winter vegetable soup with kale, rutabaga, carrots, fennel, crushed tomatoes and beans plus Parmesan rind for umami. —Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025

Vegetables: Asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, endive, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onion sets, peas, potatoes, radicchio, radishes, roquette, rutabagas, spinach, Swiss chard and turnips 5. —Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Dec. 2024

Lehto’s offers beef, chicken and vegetable pasties that include potato, onion and rutabaga (a hallmark of a true pasty) in the filling. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Swedish dialect rotabagge, from rot root + bagge bag

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

rutabaga

noun

ru·​ta·​ba·​ga ˌrüt-ə-ˈbā-gə 

ˌru̇t-,

-ˈbeg-ə

: a turnip with a large yellowish root that is eaten as a vegetable

also : the root