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

Sweets include bumbleberry, with a glaze of fresh organic berries, and the Banofee, with banana, streusel and toffee. —Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025

Galeries Lafayette will be home to a dozen exclusive creations, including a passport holder with a banana motif from Stewart; a handbag with a dice motif from Adams; and a floral dog carrier from Stewart. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025

The banana crêpe is the one to order. —John Mariani, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

Jenner then tried out a banana filter with her son and moved it between each of their faces. —Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 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