Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary
thesaurus
view recents

cranberry

noun
Save Word
cran·​ber·​ry | \ ˈkran-ˌber-ē How to pronounce cranberry (audio) , -ˌbe-rē, -b(ə-)rē \

Definition of cranberry

1 : the red acid berry produced by some plants (such as Vaccinium oxycoccos and V. macrocarpon) of the heath family also : a plant producing these
2 : any of various plants with a fruit that resembles a cranberry
3 : a dark red

Examples of cranberry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Serve in big hunks or torn pieces with cranberry jam or maple syrup (or both). — Star Tribune, "Breakfast bread pudding is naughty and nice," 23 Dec. 2020 The holiday turkey dinner poutine meal is $10.99 includes friends, cheese curds, turkey, turkey gravy, stuffing and cranberry drizzle. — Audrey Eads, Dallas News, "50-plus D-FW restaurants and grocers offering holiday takeout meals," 14 Dec. 2020 Outside of her cranberry nut pretzel bark, pretzels play a big role in Rachel’s seasonal kitchen—including being munched on by kids and adults alike as dinner is prepared. — Sarah Baird, Good Housekeeping, "3 Ways To Stay Connected During the Holidays, According this Home Expert," 9 Dec. 2020 Sip Wine Bar in Tinley Park, including a cranberry wine, a chardonnay and a red blend. — Daily Southtown Staff, chicagotribune.com, "Community news: Food drives, fundraisers, blankets for burgers and more," 27 Nov. 2020 On the edges of the bogs, cranberry plants thrived. — John Tlumacki, The Boston Globe, National Geographic, "Climate change is coming for New England's cranberries," 25 Nov. 2020 Holiday sapors, including cranberry mulling spices and vanilla, shape this 4.6 percent ABV (or alcohol by volume) brew. — Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, "Top Huntsville arts/entertainment picks for the week," 23 Nov. 2020 But the standbys reign, succulent sandwiches like the Baltimore Wrap (honey ham, turkey, Asiago cheese, lettuce, tomato and Old Bay mayonnaise) and the cranberry chicken salad. — Mike Klingaman, baltimoresun.com, "Savona deli in Bel Air takes pride in food and being part of community for 15 years," 21 Nov. 2020 Enter these soothing sachets, everything from Chinese black to Scandanavian cranberry elderflower. — Christina Vercelletto, CNN Underscored, "30 amazing Advent calendars that make December so much merrier," 10 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cranberry.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of cranberry

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for cranberry

partial translation of Low German kraanbere, from kraan crane + bere berry

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about cranberry

Time Traveler for cranberry

Time Traveler

The first known use of cranberry was in 1647

See more words from the same year

Statistics for cranberry

Last Updated

10 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Cranberry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cranberry. Accessed 17 Jan. 2021.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for cranberry

cranberry

noun
How to pronounce cranberry (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of cranberry

: a small, dark red berry or the plant that produces it
: a dark red color

See the full definition for cranberry in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cranberry

noun
cran·​ber·​ry | \ ˈkran-ˌber-ē How to pronounce cranberry (audio) \
plural cranberries

Kids Definition of cranberry

: a sour bright red berry that is eaten in sauces and jelly and is the fruit of an evergreen swamp plant related to the blueberries

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on cranberry

Nglish: Translation of cranberry for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of cranberry for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cranberry

Comments on cranberry

What made you want to look up cranberry? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

modicum

Listen to the pronunciation of modicum

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Words of Snow and Ice Quiz

  • image1037863653
  • Which of the following refers to thin, bending ice, or to the act of running over such ice?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Typeshift

Anagram puzzles meet word search.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games