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

The banana leaf acts as a protective barrier, preventing the salmon from sticking or drying out during the slow roast. — Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

Add strawberries, bananas, mangos, berries, or any variety of fruits in the evening, top it off with yogurt and any other ingredients, then add water in the morning and blend on the go. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 2 July 2026

One runner took a decidedly bananas approach to race-day fashion during the 57th running of the Peachtree Road Race. — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 4 July 2026

Greek yogurt, avocado, and frozen banana are options for improved viscosity, but in my opinion, each offers a compromise in flavor (too tangy, too buttery, too banana-y). — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 July 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