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

Blend kefir, unflavored collagen peptides, frozen fruit (mango, berries, banana, or a combination), and coconut water until smooth. —Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026

Our secret is using banana cream instant pudding in the filling to recreate that signature Hummingbird flavor, plus a good springform pan and some foil wrapped around it for extra insurance while baking it in a water bath. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026

Combine rolled oats and milk in a jar, stir in peanut butter, and top with sliced banana. —Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 10 Mar. 2026

Instead of turning to their Bilt cards for more high-ticket items to reach the minimum spend, though, a lot of users just paid their rent and bought four individual bananas. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 10 Mar. 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