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

At Meditrina Market Cafe in Valparaiso, where the specials include cilantro naan and eggplant shawarma, Rachael and Peter Brown raved about the local dining scene. —Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026

During summer, switch to peppers, eggplant, and herbs in summer, followed by a fall crop of greens. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026

Cool-season crops like lettuce and kale can germinate when the soil is colder, but summer veggies like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants will germinate best between 60°F and 85°F. —Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 6 Apr. 2026

Tomato, pepper, eggplant and tomatillo are all susceptible to the same soil pathogens. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 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
• secant
• supplant
• transplant
• ant

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