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 elongated 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

Replace your loofah, scrub brush and other exfoliating tools with one exfoliating shower towel. —Tory Johnson, ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026

Think bath salts, bath bombs, or a soothing bubble bath paired with a loofah or wooden bath tray. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026

Wear loose-fitting, long pants and long sleeved shirts, and shower immediately afterward with a loofah to remove any stragglers. —Joan Morris, Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2026

Consider other products that complement the shower steamer experience, like shower gels, lotions and loofah sponges, in your gift set too. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026

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"