Illustration of mesquite
- 1 flower and leaves
- 2 pod
: any of several spiny leguminous trees or shrubs (genus Prosopis and especially P. glandulosa) chiefly of the southwestern U.S. that often form extensive thickets and have sweet pods eaten by livestock
also
: the wood of the mesquite used especially in grilling food
Examples of mesquite in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Native trees like palo verde, ironwood and mesquite provide valuable shade from the sun’s harsh rays for plants growing below.
—
John Leos, AZCentral.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Other brands that have dabbled in mesquite are Wild Turkey Longbranch and Old Forester King Ranch Edition, both of which are filtered through mesquite charcoal.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2026
The seeds were from Syrian mesquite, which is native to desert climates of Northern Africa but rarely seen elsewhere, customs officials said.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 30 Dec. 2025
The meeting place looks much like any other expanse of road in the Sonoran desert, dusty taupe with various cacti and mesquite trees.
—Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025
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John Leos, AZCentral.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Other brands that have dabbled in mesquite are Wild Turkey Longbranch and Old Forester King Ranch Edition, both of which are filtered through mesquite charcoal.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2026
The seeds were from Syrian mesquite, which is native to desert climates of Northern Africa but rarely seen elsewhere, customs officials said.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 30 Dec. 2025
The meeting place looks much like any other expanse of road in the Sonoran desert, dusty taupe with various cacti and mesquite trees.
—Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mesquite
Cite this Entry
“Mesquite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mesquite. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mesquite
noun
mes·quite
mə-ˈskēt 
me-
: a thorny deep-rooted tree or shrub of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico that belongs to the legume family, produces pods rich in sugar, and is important as food for livestock
also
: the wood of the mesquite used especially in grilling food
Geographical Definition
Mesquite
geographical name
Mes·quite
mə-ˈskēt
me-
city in northeastern Texas east of Dallas population 139,824
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