Fabaceae

noun plural

Fa·​ba·​ce·​ae fə-ˈbā-sē-ˌē How to pronounce Fabaceae (audio)
: a large family of dicotyledonous herbs, shrubs, and trees having fruits that are legumes or loments, bearing nodules on the roots that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and including important food and forage plants (as peas, beans, or clovers)

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fabaceae.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/Fabaceae. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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