: a peach with a smooth-skinned fruit that is a frequent somatic mutation of the normal peach
also : its fruit

Examples of nectarine in a Sentence

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.
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 California's Central Valley, stretching some 20,000 square miles (51,800 square kilometers), is an agricultural powerhouse that's estimated to produce 40% of the nation's fruits, nuts and other table foods, including most of its nectarines. ABC News, 3 July 2026 Swap peaches with nectarines, mango, strawberries, or a peach berry blend. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 27 June 2026 Richer, more concentrated Prosecco with delectable flavors of nectarine tart and apricot preserves with intense minerality and delicate bubbles that caress the palate. Cathrine Todd, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nectarine

Word History

Etymology

obsolete nectarine, adjective, like nectar

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nectarine was in 1616

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nectarine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nectarine. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

nectarine

noun
: a smooth-skinned peach
also : a tree producing this fruit

More from Merriam-Webster on nectarine

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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