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

Take your pick from the day’s offerings: banana walnut bread, chocolate babka, cinnamon rolls, classic chocolate chunk cookies or sesame guava cookies. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025

The saccharine, fruity taste that dominates the banana matcha latte is a stark contrast to the subdued, earthy flavors of high-quality matcha. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2025

It’s played live by a Misfits cover band as a guy tries to slam-dance while wearing a banana costume. —Vahaken Mouradian, National Review, 12 June 2025

Add crispy pepitas to soups instead of croutons Bake them in banana nut bread. 3. —Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 11 June 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