spinach

noun

spin·​ach ˈspi-nich How to pronounce spinach (audio)
1
: an Asian herb (Spinacia oleracea) of the amaranth family cultivated for its edible leaves which form in a dense basal rosette
also : its leaves
2
a
: something unwanted, pretentious, or spurious
b
: an untidy overgrowth
spinachlike adjective
spinachy adjective

Examples of spinach 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.
Non-orange foods like green leafy vegetables (like spinach) are also good sources of beta carotene. Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 30 June 2025 Toss baby spinach and arugula together to combine evenly, and then distribute evenly among four shallow bowls. Stephanie Ganz, Southern Living, 26 June 2025 Her nutrient-dense, peppery leaves can be eaten like spinach. Michael Shaikh june 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025 Blanch some greens like spinach, bok choy, or cabbage by dropping them in boiling water until tender, then plunging them in ice water to stop the cooking before adding them to the bowl. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for spinach

Word History

Etymology

Middle English spinache, from Anglo-French, alteration of Old French espinaces, from Medieval Latin spinachium, ultimately from Arabic isfānākh, from Pers

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spinach was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spinach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spinach. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

spinach

noun
spin·​ach ˈspin-ich How to pronounce spinach (audio)
: a widely grown plant with dark green leaves that are used as food
also : the leaves

More from Merriam-Webster on spinach

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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