loofah

noun

loo·​fah ˈlü-fə 

variants or luffa

1

: any of a genus (Luffa) of Old World tropical plants of the gourd family with white to yellow flowers and large usually elongate fruits that are sometimes eaten as vegetables when immature

also : the fruit of a loofah

2

: a sponge consisting of the fibrous interior of the mature dried fruit of a loofah (especially Luffa aegyptiaca synonym L. cylindrica)

Examples of loofah in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This sleek caddy from Pottery Barn helps make the task much easier, as it's designed with four exterior pockets to hold must-haves like shampoo and conditioner, face wash, a loofah, etc. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 3 June 2025

Using a washcloth, loofah, or gentle scrub, exfoliate the skin on your bikini line and around your vulva. —Megan Gustashaw, Glamour, 29 Apr. 2025

Clean loofahs weekly in a bleach solution and replace them regularly. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2025

Avoid irritating your skin with abrasive exfoliant scrubs or harsh loofahs and back brushes. —Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin luffa, from Arabic lūf

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for loofah

• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw
• byelaw
• bylaw
• chainsaw
• cheraw
• coleslaw
• crenshaw
• dada
• esau

Kids Definition

loofah

noun

loof·​ah

variants also luffa

ˈlü-fə

: any of various Old World tropical plants of the gourd family with large fruits

also : a sponge consisting of the fiber-containing skeleton of its fruit

Etymology

derived from Arabic lūf "loofah"