kale

noun

1
a
: a hardy cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) with curled often finely incised leaves that do not form a dense head
also : its leaves used as a vegetable
b
: cole
2
slang : money

Examples of kale in a Sentence

trying to scrape up the kale to buy more dope
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Testing found the highest levels of pesticides in spinach — with more pesticide residue by weight than any other produce tested — followed by strawberries, kale (along with mustard greens and collards), grapes, peaches, cherries, nectarines, pears, apples, blackberries, blueberries and potatoes. Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025 Common fall crops that benefit pollinators From kale, bok choy, and collards, to broccoli and Brussels sprouts, to radish and turnips, these crops are valuable fall food sources that produce well into the end of the growing season in the KC area. Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 20 Sep. 2025 Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, mustard greens, and kale can provide most of your daily vitamin C in one serving. Merve Ceylan, Health, 19 Sep. 2025 The smell Cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, kale, broccoli and Brussels sprouts contain glucosinolate, a unique phytonutrient that’s made up of amino acids, glucose, nitrogen and sulfur. Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kale

Word History

Etymology

Scots, from Middle English (northern) cal, from Old English cāl — more at cole

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of kale was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kale. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

kale

noun
: a hardy cabbage with curly leaves that do not form a head

More from Merriam-Webster on kale

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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