legume

noun

le·​gume ˈle-ˌgyüm  li-ˈgyüm 

plural legumes

1

a

: the dry fruit of plants of the legume family (such as peas or beans) that develops from a single carpel of a flower and usually splits into two halves with seeds attached to the seam of one half : pod entry 1 sense 1

b

: the fruit or seeds of a legume plant (such as the peanut or tamarind) used for food

2

: any of a large family (Leguminosae synonym Fabaceae, the legume family) of dicotyledonous plants that have fruits that are legumes and roots with nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria and that includes important food and forage plants (such as peas, beans, or clovers)

Examples of legume in a Sentence

recipes that include legumes like lentils and chickpeas

Recent Examples on the Web

Canned Beans Beans are heart-healthy legumes rich in soluble fiber, which binds to cholesterol in the digestive tract and helps to flush it out of the body. —Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 28 Jan. 2026

At Bati Ethiopian Kitchen in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, the menu centers injera, a large, sour, spongy flatbread, served with a variety of wat, stews made from meat, vegetables, and legumes. —Irene Adeline Milanez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Jan. 2026

Furthermore, plant foods such as edamame, lentils, peas, nuts, seeds and legumes offer a healthy source of protein that’s free from the cholesterol found only in animal products. —Gene Baur, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026

Instead, opt for leaner cuts of meat like pork tenderloin, beef sirloin, and skinless chicken breasts or thighs; swap out meat for other proteins like legumes and fish; and use vegetable oils (like olive) rather than solid fats (butter) when cooking. —Beth Krietsch, SELF, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French légume, from Latin legumin-, legumen leguminous plant, from legere to gather — more at legend

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for legume

• assume
• backroom
• ballroom
• barroom
• bathroom
• bedroom
• boardroom
• bridegroom
• classroom
• cloakroom
• consume
• costume

Kids Definition

legume

noun

leg·​ume

ˈleg-ˌyüm, 

li-ˈgyüm

1

a

: any of a large family of herbs, shrubs, and trees that have fruits which are dry single-celled pods that split into two pieces when ripe, that bear nodules on the roots that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and that include important food plants (as peas, beans, or clovers)

b

: the part (as seeds or pods) of a legume used as food

2

: the pod of a legume

Medical Definition

legume

noun

le·​gume ˈleg-ˌyüm  li-ˈgyüm 

1

: the fruit or seed of leguminous plants (as peas or beans) used for food

2

: any plant of the family Fabaceae (synonym Leguminosae)