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

Instead of frying, the eggplant is baked to keep things lighter and far less messy. —Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026

Stay in a Historic Inn A short walk up the road is The 1910 Inn, an aqua- and eggplant-hued historic Queen Anne home that fourth-generation local Annie Samarkos has tenderly restored into a bed-and-breakfast and event venue. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026

Some of the most unanimously popular tones in the winter months are in the burgundy family—deep berry, eggplant, and maroon shades—they’re luxurious and sophisticated. —Sunnah Rasheed, InStyle, 4 Jan. 2026

The menu is elevated mountain fare; go for the eggplant spread starter and chicken schnitzel main. —Jessica Campbell-Salley, Outside, 19 Dec. 2025

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