pea·nut
ˈpē-(ˌ)nət 
plural peanuts
1
: a low-branching widely cultivated annual herb (Arachis hypogaea) of the legume family with showy yellow flowers having a peduncle which elongates and bends into the soil where the ovary ripens into a pod containing one to three oily edible seeds
also
: its seed or seed-containing pod
2
: an insignificant or tiny person
3
peanuts plural
: a trifling amount
4
: a pellet made of a low-density lightweight material (such as polystyrene foam or corn starch) that is used especially as packing material
—usually plural
It's all part of the company's mission to be more sustainable. When your paint shows up at your door, you won't find it loaded with polystyrene peanuts.—
Nicole Conway
Nicole ConwayIn the 1800s the acorns were used for packing (like Styrofoam peanuts) and ships would dump them overboard and they'd wash up on shore.—Rich Eldred
Rich EldredWhenever you get plants in the mail, or other fragile things, they come packed with these foam peanuts.—Peter Hotton
Peter HottonThe bill would also ban the sale of polystyrene loose fill packaging, or packing peanuts.—Samantha Maldonado
Samantha Maldonado
: insignificant, petty
peanut politics
Examples of peanut in a Sentence
Noun
Five billion dollars is peanuts compared to what the government spends each year.
He works all day for peanuts.
Adjective
this is a peanut matter, and we're fools for wasting time on it
Recent Examples on the Web
Merve Ceylan, Health, 19 Dec. 2025
The peanut print is, of course, a reference to Jimmy's past as a peanut farmer, which was a focus of his political candidacy and remains as part of his legacy.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025
When providing food for birds at feeders, use energy-rich options, like sunflower seeds, peanuts, suet, thistle, and sugar water or oranges.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2025
In addition, three-week-old peanut sauce was kept in the cooler and unmarked purple liquid inside two spray bottles.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for peanut
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Noun
Legumes and Pulses Legumes and pulses include beans, chickpeas, peas, lentils, soybeans, peanuts, edamame, green beans, and fresh peas.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 19 Dec. 2025
The peanut print is, of course, a reference to Jimmy's past as a peanut farmer, which was a focus of his political candidacy and remains as part of his legacy.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025
When providing food for birds at feeders, use energy-rich options, like sunflower seeds, peanuts, suet, thistle, and sugar water or oranges.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2025
In addition, three-week-old peanut sauce was kept in the cooler and unmarked purple liquid inside two spray bottles.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for peanut
Cite this Entry
“Peanut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peanut. Accessed 25 Dec. 2025.
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