lettuce

noun

let·​tuce ˈle-təs 

: any of a genus (Lactuca) of composite plants

especially : a common garden vegetable (L. sativa) whose succulent leaves are used especially in salads

Examples of lettuce in a Sentence

I like a little lettuce and tomato on my sandwiches.

Recent Examples on the Web

Not wanting to disappoint, but short on ingredients, Cardini quickly assembled some romaine lettuce, anchovies, breadcrumbs, and some other ingredients. —Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

On a rainy day last week, the green sea turtle pumped her limbs and stretched her beak up to chomp a lettuce leaf floating on the surface of a tank at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026

Their coffee is roasted by Zero Profit Coffee in Washington, their beer is from Kent Fall Brewing in Kent, their lettuce is grown in Warren, their bourbon is from a distillery Litchfield. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2026

Along with pizza and $6 rotisserie chickens, there are salads with lettuce and greens grown hydroponically in-house, global cuisine offerings and healthier and cleaner grab-and-go snacks without trans fats or preservatives. —Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English letuse, from Anglo-French letuse, probably from plural of letue lettuce plant, from Latin lactuca, from lact-, lac milk; from its milky juice — more at galaxy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lettuce

• Bibb lettuce
• Boston lettuce
• butter lettuce
• cos lettuce
• devil's lettuce
• iceberg lettuce
• lamb's lettuce
• miner's lettuce
• sea lettuce

Kids Definition

lettuce

noun

let·​tuce ˈlet-əs 

: a common garden vegetable related to the daisies that has crisp juicy leaves used especially in salads