fava bean

1 of 2

noun (1)

fa·​va bean ˈfä-və- 

: the large, flat, edible, starchy seed of an Old World upright vetch (Vicia faba) that is typically pale green to whitish in color and is eaten raw, blanched, or cooked

also : this plant widely grown for its seeds and as fodder

called also broad bean, horse bean

see favism

fava

2 of 2

noun (2)

fa·​va

ˈfävə

variants or fava bean or less commonly faba

ˈfäbə

plural -s

: broad bean

Examples of fava bean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

It’s known for an extensive martini selection and dishes like crispy baked potato with crème fraîche and caviar; and branzino with fava beans, artichoke and snow pea salad. —Beth Landman, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026

Downtown restaurant Aiona is throwing the fish on its live fire grill and serving it with walnut romesco, panzanella and fava beans. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2026

For many Denver coffee fans, the idea of eating fava beans with their morning brew may sound a little strange. —Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 13 May 2026

This one, from the chef Perfecte Rocher (now cooking in San Diego), makes the most of spring delights, including fava beans and artichoke hearts. —Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Italian fava "fava bean," going back to Latin faba, going back to dialectal Indo-European *b^hab^(h)- (whence also Serbian & Croatian bȍb, bòba "bean," Polish bób, Russian bob all going back to Slavic *bobŭ), probably borrowed from a European substratal language

Noun (2)

fava from Italian, from Latin faba bean; faba from New Latin (specific epithet of the broad bean Vicia faba), from Latin, bean

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1893, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1893, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fava bean

• acridine
• acrolein
• adenine
• alkylene
• aniline
• anthracene
• aquiline
• asphaltene
• atlantean
• atrazine
• butadiene
• butylene

Kids Definition

fava bean

noun

fa·​va bean ˈfä-və- 

: broad bean

Medical Definition

fava bean

noun

fa·​va bean ˈfäv-ə- 

: broad bean