raspberry

noun

rasp·​ber·​ry ˈraz-ˌber-ē How to pronounce raspberry (audio)
-b(ə-)rē
1
a
: any of various usually black or red edible berries that are aggregate fruits consisting of numerous small drupes on a fleshy receptacle and that are usually rounder and smaller than the closely related blackberries
b
: a perennial plant (genus Rubus) of the rose family that bears raspberries
2
[short for raspberry tart, rhyming slang for fart] : a sound of contempt made by protruding the tongue between the lips and expelling air forcibly to produce a vibration
broadly : an expression of disapproval or contempt

Illustration of raspberry

Illustration of raspberry

Examples of raspberry in a Sentence

One of the children made a raspberry at him. there were raspberries from the audience when the hapless actress kept forgetting her lines
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.
There’s also Pip, a brainy Border Collie who’d rather work a Rubik’s Cube than herd sheep, and Debbie, a Chihuahua sipping a raspberry mojito. Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025 Trefethen 2021 Cabernet Franc has ethereal aromas of spice, cherry, cigar box, raspberry, black pepper, and plum, followed by flavors of cassis, jalapeño, blackberry, and tobacco leaf. Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025 Visitors travel from near and far for specialty cheesecake flavors like blueberry, chocolate marble, amaretto, and raspberry white chocolate. Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025 The fragrance opens with this bright, fizzy combination of raspberry, orange flower, and mandarin that immediately lifts your mood. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for raspberry

Word History

Etymology

English dialect rasp raspberry + English berry

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of raspberry was circa 1616

Cite this Entry

“Raspberry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raspberry. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

raspberry

noun
rasp·​ber·​ry ˈraz-ˌber-ē How to pronounce raspberry (audio)
-b(ə-)rē
1
a
: any of various black or red edible berries that are rounder and smaller than the related blackberries
b
: a usually prickly plant that produces raspberries
2
: a sound of scorn made by sticking out the tongue and blowing hard so as to make it vibrate

More from Merriam-Webster on raspberry

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