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

Plus, every fruit drink is an experience of its own, from the refreshing coconut and piña colada to the juicier papaya and banana. —Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 12 Dec. 2025

Side and dessert options include macaroni and cheese, potato wedges, white beans, collard greens, banana pudding, cookies and more. —Molly Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Dec. 2025

Perth Zoo has celebrated the birth of a Bolivian squirrel monkey, a tiny infant weighing less than a banana, and born to parents Vivo and Tikan. —Sarah Scanlan, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025

And that composted banana peel is likely more beneficial to soil as a physical component of soil than as a nutrition source. —Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Dec. 2025

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