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

None of the top suppliers of bananas — Guatemala, Ecuador, Honduras and Costa Rica — qualify, meaning the tariffs remain in effect, with rates as high as 15%, says Tom Stenzel, executive director of the Banana Importers Association. —Mike Winters, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025

The pancake menu includes all the hits, from chocolate chip and pecan to blueberry, strawberry, and banana. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025

Before heading into an interview room, Eckert always eats a banana. —Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025

To avoid refined cane sugar, opt for natural alternatives like honey, maple syrup, or mashed banana. —Christina Manian, Health, 22 Oct. 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