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

Pile the chickpea mixture in the center and add cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. —Gretchen McKay, Boston Herald, 24 June 2026

Shade cloth that blocks about 30% of the UV light works for most plants, but heat-sensitive crops like lettuce may do better under shade cloth with a 50% to 70% shade cloth. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 June 2026

His successor Liz Truss lasted 49 days—a tenure memorably outlasted by a supermarket lettuce. —Tristan Bove, Fortune, 23 June 2026

Place 3 heads of Little Gem lettuce or 2 romaine hearts, leaves separated, torn if large, in a large bowl. —Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 June 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