eggplant

noun

egg·​plant ˈeg-ˌplant 

ˈāg-

1

a

: a widely cultivated perennial Asian herb (Solanum melongena) of the nightshade family yielding edible fruit

b

: the usually smooth ovoid typically blackish-purple or white fruit of the eggplant

2

: a dark grayish or blackish purple

Examples of eggplant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Slather the inside of the rolls with the mayonnaise or aioli and add two slices of eggplant and 1 or 2 leaves of lettuce, and close. — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

Every Southern garden should include eggplant, which thrives in the hot and humid summer and fall. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 June 2026

In the produce section, large bins held tomatillos, poblano peppers, Indian eggplants, dragon fruit, kumquats, coconuts, fava beans and giant king oyster mushrooms. — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2026

When eggplant is in season, grab a few to make this delicious pasta bake. — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing eggplant

• Japanese eggplant

Rhymes for eggplant

• decant
• descant
• enchant
• explant
• implant
• preplant
• recant
• replant
• supplant
• transplant
• ant
• aunt

Kids Definition

eggplant

noun

egg·​plant -ˌplant 

1

: a widely cultivated herb that is related to the potato and yields edible fruit

2

: the usually glossy blackish purple egg-shaped fruit of an eggplant