banana

noun

ba·​nana bə-ˈna-nə 

 especially British  -ˈnä-

1

: an elongated usually tapering tropical fruit with soft pulpy flesh enclosed in a soft usually yellow rind

a bunch of bananas

slipped on a banana peel

2

: any of several widely cultivated perennial often treelike herbs (genus Musa of the family Musaceae, the banana family) bearing bananas in compact pendent bunches

Illustration of banana

• banana 2

Examples of banana in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Prep our syrup using fresh bananas, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla bean paste, and a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2025

Mix it into a smoothie with fresh or frozen mango, banana, and whey protein powder or Greek yogurt. —Lauren O'Connor, Health, 11 Sep. 2025

Your favorite jelly, jam, honey, marshmallow fluff and/or bananas. —Cody Godwin, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025

The bakery side makes banana nut bread, croissants, cookies, donuts, muffins and scones. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish or Portuguese; Spanish, from Portuguese, of African origin; akin to Wolof banaana banana

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing banana

• banana bread
• banana clip
• banana oil
• banana pepper
• banana republic
• banana seat
• banana split
• second banana
• slip on a banana skin/peel
• top banana

Rhymes for banana

• arana
• arcana
• bandana
• bandanna
• brahmana
• cabana
• campana
• diana
• fianna
• hosanna
• hyaena
• lantana

Kids Definition

banana

noun

ba·​nana bə-ˈnan-ə 

: a treelike tropical plant with large leaves and flower clusters that develop into a bunch of finger-shaped fruit which are usually yellow when ripe

also : its fruit