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 gold standard is either the Giffard Banane du Brasil, for lighter, brighter banana notes, or Tempus Fugit Crème de Banana, which tastes more like banana bread. — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 11 July 2026

The project became emotional with firsthand stories emerging like how a banana was used to trace out the curve of a body panel. — New Atlas, 11 July 2026

Consider pairing yielding fruits like nectarines with crisper specimens like apples, even softer fruits like bananas or cherimoya or crunchier additions like passionfruit pulp or shreds of coconut. — Cooking Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

While some medi-spas adopt the clinical aesthetic, Acquaforte Thalasso & Spa is part-luxury-resort, part-wellness-clinic, surrounding itself with flamboyant, lush gardens resplendent with palms, banana trees, and tropical flowers. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 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