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

Also, storing cucumbers next to fruits like tomatoes, bananas and melons can speed up the spoilage process. —Logan Holland, People.com, 5 July 2025

Use the ethylene released by bananas (or apples or avocados) to hasten tomato ripening by placing them together on the counter or in a fruit bowl. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 July 2025

There is also a $12 Elvis Shake, made with Dirty Monkey Peanut Butter Banana Whiskey, vanilla ice cream, banana, milk, and chocolate; bacon strips jut out the top like crispy sails on a creamy sea. —David Hudnall updated July 3, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2025

After the Southside Park restaurant closed in 2022, Fox followed her back to Jim-Denny’s for her signature banana pudding. —Sacbee.com, 3 July 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