Illustration of lemon
- branch with fruit and flowers
1
a
: an acid fruit that is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry produced by a small thorny citrus tree (Citrus limon) and that has a rind from which an aromatic oil is extracted
b
: a tree that bears lemons
2
: something (such as an automobile) that is unsatisfactory or defective
1
: of the color lemon yellow
2
a
: containing lemon
b
: having the flavor or scent of lemon
Synonyms
Examples of lemon in a Sentence
Noun
The recipe calls for the juice of two lemons.
Garnish it with a slice of lemon.
Our new car is a lemon.
Recent Examples on the Web
Eric Kim, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023
Whisk in fresh lemon juice or good vinegar one teaspoon at a time.
—Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2023
Some people believe that carrying a lemon in your pocket wards off negative energy.
—Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
Stir what's left into a chicken salad (with Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, celery, lemon juice, dill, and parsley).
—Leslie Goldman, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2023
That meat is then coated in a brown-butter sauce with a little salt and some lemon juice.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2023
Whisk in mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk and lemon juice until a smooth, slightly lumpy dressing forms.
—cleveland, 12 Sep. 2023
Whisk in the mustard, silan (date syrup), honey, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and red pepper.
—Sheryl Julian, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2023
Our take: Classic Arnold Palmer combo here, with some nice tart lemon to cut through the sweetness.
—Gary Dzen, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023
Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu, Bon Appétit, 16 June 2023
With intoxicating notes of lemon essential oil, blackcurrant bud absolute, raspberry rose Damascena essential oil, cedarwood essential oil, and musk, the eau is sweet and citrusy yet not too overpowering.
—Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 22 Nov. 2022
Their other copy of that gene, as well as both copies in non-lemon-frost leopard geckos, did not have those differences in the DNA sequence.
—Maddie Bender, Scientific American, 24 June 2021
And there's a sauce for everyone's taste, from lemon garlic lobster to mango habanero steak and shrimp and chicken bacon ranch dishes.
—Dahlia Ghabour, The Courier-Journal, 27 May 2021
Makes 8 shots 6 ounces dry rosé 1½ ounces Campari
2 ounces lemon juice
½ ounce maraschino cherry liquid
Maraschino cherries, such as Luxardo
In a shaker filled with ice, combine the rosé, Campari, lemon juice, and maraschino cherry liquid.
—Rebekah Peppler, Bon Appétit, 26 Aug. 2019
Make LEMON PUDDING (from a mix) with 1 percent milk for dessert.
—Susan Nicholson, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2017
Jack Rudy Elderflower Tonic .5 oz. Lemon juice 4 oz.
—Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, 18 Dec. 2015
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Noun
Extra-virgin olive oil, coriander and caraway join the chiles, and sometimes lemon juice or vinegar as well, for brightness and preservation.
—Eric Kim, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023
Whisk in fresh lemon juice or good vinegar one teaspoon at a time.
—Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2023
Some people believe that carrying a lemon in your pocket wards off negative energy.
—Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
Stir what's left into a chicken salad (with Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, celery, lemon juice, dill, and parsley).
—Leslie Goldman, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2023
That meat is then coated in a brown-butter sauce with a little salt and some lemon juice.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2023
Whisk in mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk and lemon juice until a smooth, slightly lumpy dressing forms.
—cleveland, 12 Sep. 2023
Whisk in the mustard, silan (date syrup), honey, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and red pepper.
—Sheryl Julian, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2023
Our take: Classic Arnold Palmer combo here, with some nice tart lemon to cut through the sweetness.
—Gary Dzen, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023
Adjective
Order a side of fries, which is big enough to share between two people, and top things off with a lemon Italian ice—the only flavor available.
—Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu, Bon Appétit, 16 June 2023
With intoxicating notes of lemon essential oil, blackcurrant bud absolute, raspberry rose Damascena essential oil, cedarwood essential oil, and musk, the eau is sweet and citrusy yet not too overpowering.
—Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 22 Nov. 2022
Their other copy of that gene, as well as both copies in non-lemon-frost leopard geckos, did not have those differences in the DNA sequence.
—Maddie Bender, Scientific American, 24 June 2021
And there's a sauce for everyone's taste, from lemon garlic lobster to mango habanero steak and shrimp and chicken bacon ranch dishes.
—Dahlia Ghabour, The Courier-Journal, 27 May 2021
Makes 8 shots 6 ounces dry rosé 1½ ounces Campari
2 ounces lemon juice
½ ounce maraschino cherry liquid
Maraschino cherries, such as Luxardo
In a shaker filled with ice, combine the rosé, Campari, lemon juice, and maraschino cherry liquid.
—Rebekah Peppler, Bon Appétit, 26 Aug. 2019
Make LEMON PUDDING (from a mix) with 1 percent milk for dessert.
—Susan Nicholson, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2017
Jack Rudy Elderflower Tonic .5 oz. Lemon juice 4 oz.
—Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, 18 Dec. 2015
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lemon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English lymon, from Middle French limon, from Medieval Latin limon-, limo, from Arabic laymūn, līmūn, from Persian līmū, līmun
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of lemon was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing lemon
Dictionary Entries Near lemon
Cite this Entry
“Lemon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lemon. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
lemon
noun
lem·on
ˈlem-ən
1
a
: a yellow oblong fruit with sour juice and a thick rind from which a fragrant oil is obtained
b
: a small thorny citrus tree that bears lemons
2
: the color of ripe lemons
3
: one that turns out to be unsatisfactory or disappointing
our new car is a lemon
lemon
adjective
Medical Definition
lemon
noun
lem·on
ˈlem-ən 
: an acid fruit that contains citric acid and vitamin C, is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry, and is produced by a small thorny tree of the genus Citrus (C. limon)
also
: this tree
lemon
adjective
More from Merriam-Webster on lemon
Nglish: Translation of lemon for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lemon for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lemon
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