banana

noun

ba·​nana bə-ˈna-nə 

especially British -ˈnä-

1

: an elongated usually tapering tropical fruit with soft pulpy flesh enclosed in a soft usually yellow rind

a bunch of bananas

slipped on a banana peel

2

: any of several widely cultivated perennial often treelike herbs (genus Musa of the family Musaceae, the banana family) bearing bananas in compact pendent bunches

Illustration of banana

• banana 2

Examples of banana in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Muscle Malt protein shake with banana, peanut butter, chocolate protein powder is another popular option. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026

Of course there’s familiarity with some of these people, but also there’s just this pretty bananas range of physicalities and looks and experience, literal experiences. —Joe Lynch, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026

Game management ultimately located some bananas for him. —Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026

For dessert, Morabito recommends the banana lumpia or bread pudding made with warm naan. —Zacharia Washington, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish or Portuguese; Spanish, from Portuguese, of African origin; akin to Wolof banaana banana

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing banana

• banana bread
• banana clip
• banana oil
• banana pepper
• banana republic
• banana seat
• banana split
• second banana
• slip on a banana skin/peel
• top banana

Rhymes for banana

• arana
• arcana
• bandana
• bandanna
• brahmana
• cabana
• campana
• diana
• fianna
• hosanna
• hyaena
• lantana

Kids Definition

banana

noun

ba·​nana bə-ˈnan-ə 

: a treelike tropical plant with large leaves and flower clusters that develop into a bunch of finger-shaped fruit which are usually yellow when ripe

also : its fruit