: a sprawling herb (Vigna unguiculata synonym V. sinensis) of the legume family related to the bean and widely cultivated in the southern U.S. for forage, green manure, and edible seeds
also
: its edible seed
called also black-eyed pea, field pea
Examples of cowpea in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the African country of Malawi, for instance, the Innovation Lab has launched a promising project encouraging small-time farmers who mostly produce subsistence crops like cassava and cowpeas to diversify into soybeans.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2025
Both types make a good groundcover or living mulch to reduce weeds and fix nitrogen in the soil.
Plant cowpeas in late spring, after the threat of frost has passed.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
Like cowpeas, clovers fix nitrogen in the soil, making the nutrient available to peppers and other crops.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
Split peas come in at around eight grams of fiber per half cup cooked, while pigeon peas, black-eyed peas, and cowpeas all pack around six grams of fiber for that same amount.
5.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cowpea
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2025
Both types make a good groundcover or living mulch to reduce weeds and fix nitrogen in the soil.
Plant cowpeas in late spring, after the threat of frost has passed.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
Like cowpeas, clovers fix nitrogen in the soil, making the nutrient available to peppers and other crops.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
Split peas come in at around eight grams of fiber per half cup cooked, while pigeon peas, black-eyed peas, and cowpeas all pack around six grams of fiber for that same amount.
5.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cowpea
Cite this Entry
“Cowpea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cowpea. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cowpea
noun
cow·pea
ˈkau̇-ˌpē 
: a sprawling herb related to the bean and grown in the southern U.S. especially as food for livestock and for green manure
also
: its edible seed
called also black-eyed pea
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share