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

Place eggplant cut sides down on sauce in pan. —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 May 2026

Asparagus releases a chemical toxic to root knot nematodes, a microscopic round worm that creates multiple disease and growth problems in tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes and peppers. —Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 3 May 2026

Grow tomato, pepper, eggplant and tomatillo plants in half of your bed(s) this year, then in the other half next year. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026

Just like tomatoes, eggplant is part of the nightshade family of plants. —Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 2 May 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