cranberry

noun

cran·​ber·​ry ˈkran-ˌber-ē 

-ˌbe-rē,

-b(ə-)rē

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

Add fresh or dried (unsweetened) cranberries to oatmeal, trail mix, or roasted vegetable dishes for a pop of color and tang that livens up any fall plate. —Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 3 Oct. 2025

In a small bowl whisk together cranberry sauce and jelly until nearly smooth; stir in sage. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Oct. 2025

After a few weeks of the orange-cranberry, those were gone too. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025

Pumpkins, apples and cranberries are a few staples of the harvest season. —Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cranberry

• cranberry bush
• highbush cranberry
• mountain cranberry

Rhymes for cranberry

• askari
• astbury
• azeri
• banbury
• barberry
• blackberry
• blueberry
• canary
• dentary
• dewberry
• dogberry
• equerry

Kids Definition

cranberry

noun

cran·​ber·​ry ˈkran-ˌber-ē 

-b(ə-)rē

: the bright red sour berry of any of several trailing plants related to the blueberry

also : a plant producing these