apricot

noun

apri·​cot ˈa-prə-ˌkät How to pronounce apricot (audio) ˈā- How to pronounce apricot (audio)
often attributive
1
a
: the oval orange-colored fruit of a temperate-zone tree (Prunus armeniaca) resembling the related peach and plum in flavor
b
: a tree that bears apricots
2
: a variable color averaging a moderate orange

Examples of apricot 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.
While familiar favorites such as peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, and nectarines fall into the stone fruit category, some are more susceptible to pests and diseases than others. Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 13 June 2026 Late June is also a good time to grab cucumbers and apricots from your garden. Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 2026 Ben Ryé by Donnafugata is a benchmark wine that marries lush apricot and fig richness with laser-bright acidity, while Bukkuram by Marco De Bartoli is a traditionalist's wine that channels the raw intensity of Pantelleria into something almost mythic. Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026 Among fruit trees, peaches (as well as apricots and nectarines) are ideal candidates for growing from seed. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for apricot

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier abrecock, ultimately from Arabic al-birqūq the apricot, ultimately from Latin (persicum) praecox, literally, early ripening (peach) — more at precocious

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of apricot was in 1580

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Cite this Entry

“Apricot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apricot. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

apricot

noun
: an oval orange-colored fruit resembling the related peach and plum in flavor
also : a tree that bears apricots

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