pumpkin

noun

pump·​kin ˈpəm(p)-kən 

nonstandard

ˈpəŋ-kən 

often attributive

1

a

: a fruit of any of various cultivars of herbaceous plants (Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata, C. ficifolia, and C. argyrosperma) of the gourd family that is typically round and orange but may be another color or shape, that has a hard usually smooth skin with shallow longitudinal grooves, and that is grown for ornamental use or for its fibrous pale flesh used especially in baking or as feed for livestock

b

: any of several annual chiefly trailing American plants that bear pumpkins

2

: a strong orange color

Examples of pumpkin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pumpkin Cream Ale at Raglan Road, a lovely, nitro pour with flavors of pumpkin (obviously), cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026

This year’s outdoor fall decor runs the gamut from classic pumpkins and colorful wreaths to lanterns, doormats and pieces that lean more neutral than traditional orange and black. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026

Other snapshots showcased a gaggle of Hobbit children, scenic views of the set, and crew members pushing a cart containing some rather large pumpkins. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2026

Add gothic glassware to a dinner-party table, tuck a sculptural pumpkin onto a bookshelf, or swap an everyday candleholder for something considerably more dramatic. — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier pumpion, modification of French popon, pompon melon, pumpkin, from Latin pepon-, pepo, from Greek pepōn, from pepōn ripened; akin to Greek pessein to cook, ripen — more at cook

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pumpkin

• Japanese pumpkin
• kabocha pumpkin
• kobocha pumpkin
• pumpkin pie spice
• pumpkin spice
• pumpkin spiced

Rhymes for pumpkin

• bumpkin
• lumpkin

Kids Definition

pumpkin

noun

pump·​kin ˈpəm(p)-kən 

1

: the usually round orange fruit of a vine of the gourd family widely used as food

also : a fruit (as a crookneck squash) of a closely related vine

2

: a usually hairy prickly vine that produces pumpkins

3

: a strong orange color

Medical Definition

pumpkin

noun

pump·​kin ˈpəm(p)-kən 

: the usually round orange fruit of a vine (Cucurbita pepo) of the gourd family that is widely cultivated as food and is the source of pepo