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

Le is particularly fond of the store’s Thai green bananas, which remain bright green even when fully ripe and develop an intensely sweet flavor. — Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026

Sodium reduction stays foundational, but potassium, abundant in bananas, potatoes, beans, spinach and yogurt, is likely to appear more prominently in guidelines, apps and food-tracking tools. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026

As a French overseas territory and integral part of the European Union, the 436-square-mile island has traditionally relied heavily on exports to Europe, particularly rum and bananas, alongside tourism. — Panorama Media Ltd, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026

Esmé Creed-Miles is pacing in a corner of The London West Hollywood hotel lobby, on the phone, holding a banana. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 8 Oct. 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