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

Hurry to start seeds of tomatoes, peppers and eggplant for March transplants. —Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026

The same family has owned Mario's for five generations and counting, and the restaurant remains beloved for dishes like lasagna, margarita pizza, sausage with peppers and onions, and heaping portions of chicken and eggplant parmigiana. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026

Beckham accessorized with a pair of oversized black sunglasses, an eggplant Hermès Birkin bag in crocodile-style leather, and platform shoes. —Lara Walsh, InStyle, 27 Jan. 2026

One space that's received extra attention is Jenner's moody bathroom, where Farrow & Ball’s deep eggplant hue, Brinjal, plays a starring role. —Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 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