✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

avocado

noun

av·​o·​ca·​do ˌä-və-ˈkä-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce avocado (audio) ˌa- How to pronounce avocado (audio)
plural avocados also avocadoes
1
: a pulpy green- to purple-skinned nutty-flavored fruit of any of various tropical American trees (genus Persea especially P. americana) of the laurel family
also : a tree bearing avocados
2
: a light yellowish green

Illustration of avocado

Illustration of avocado
  • avocado 1

Examples of avocado 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.
Almost everything grows here – oranges, olives, avocado and pomegranates. Jane Arraf, NPR, 29 Nov. 2025 Peptides help firm and smooth, while shea butter, squalane, and avocado extract deeply nourish for a plumper, more elastic look, making this lightweight, fragrance-free formula a favorite for arms, thighs, and stomachs needing a bit of extra support. Lily Wohlner, Allure, 29 Nov. 2025 Fresh produce Fruits and vegetables like berries, avocados, bananas and spinach rarely survive long enough for smaller households to get their money's worth, savvy shoppers say. Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 28 Nov. 2025 For a one-two punch in the sleep-support department, try wrapping roasted seaweed sheets around slices of creamy avocado, another magnesium-rich food, to create a simple, satisfying snack that’s perfect for winding down. Lauren Manaker, SELF, 26 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for avocado

Word History

Etymology

modification of Spanish aguacate, from Nahuatl āhuacatl avocado, testicle

First Known Use

1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of avocado was in 1696

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Avocado.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avocado. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

avocado

noun
av·​o·​ca·​do ˌav-ə-ˈkäd-ō How to pronounce avocado (audio) ˌäv- How to pronounce avocado (audio)
plural avocados also avocadoes
: the usually green pear-shaped edible fruit of a tropical American tree that has a rich oily flesh
also : the tree that bears this fruit

More from Merriam-Webster on avocado

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!