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

Open up wide for the potatoes and Mexican chorizo inside, topped with lettuce, cheese and cream. —Terry Ward, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025

Some Plastics Clamshell containers used to package strawberries, grab-and-go deli and bakery items, salads, lettuce, and other foods are not recyclable in all areas. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2025

Also getting a Stop Sale for being out beyond four hours were tempura shrimp, cut tomato, cut lettuce, sushi rice, pooled raw shell eggs and bean sprouts. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 14 Nov. 2025

Flies were found in the kitchen, lettuce was stored at an unsafe temperature and some raw fish and chicken weren’t properly dated. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Nov. 2025

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

Rhymes for lettuce

• metis

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