acai

noun

ˌä-ˌsä-ˈē 

-sī-ˈē

variants or less commonly açai

1

a

or acai berry or less commonly açai berry : a small, dark purple, berrylike fruit with a juicy pulp that is often used in beverages or eaten raw and that is produced by a tall, slender palm (Euterpe oleracea) native to tropical rainforests of Central and South America

Note: Acai is a single-seeded drupe that grows in large clusters. In the Brazilian Amazon [Rainforest], acai makes up an important part of the local diet and is often prepared as a mash with cassava pulp.

b

or acai palm or less commonly açai palm : the palm (Euterpe oleracea) that produces acai berries

2

: a beverage made from the juice of the acai berry

Rio de Janeiro is the city that worships health and beauty and where the healthy and the beautiful drink acai.

—Alex Bellosz

Examples of acai in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to researchers who published findings in the National Library of Medicine, eating acai can benefit one's heart, gut, liver, kidneys and nervous system. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025

As ship restaurants need to rise to the occasion day and night to fully be appreciated, during the day, there’ll also be a Spanish-American brunch with dishes that include jamon croquettes paired with options such as acai bowls, pastries and frittatas. —Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

Dragon fruit mango smoothie, strawberry acai, pistachio frappe, berry hibiscus juice, and other smoothie and juice drinks. —Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2025

Food offerings involve an omelet station, waffles, seafood, breakfast meats, acai bowls, salads, lamb, a New York strip loin, halibut and various desserts. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Brazilian Portuguese assaí, uaçaí, açaí, the palm Euterpe oleracea, borrowed from Tupi *ɨβasaí, from ɨβá "plant, fruit" + an element of uncertain meaning

First Known Use

circa 1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1b