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

In several of the photos, Hailey could be seen wearing a vintage 1998 Christian Dior silk banana yellow and hot pink slip dress. —Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026

Regardless of ripeness, all bananas provide key nutrients such as potassium. —Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 13 Apr. 2026

Consider purchasing a basket with a banana hanger. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2026

The three men, who were all arrested and will next appear in court on April 17, hid the drugs in a banana shipment. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026

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