papaya

noun

pa·​pa·​ya pə-ˈpī-ə 

: a tropical American tree (Carica papaya of the family Caricaceae, the papaya family) having an oblong to globose yellow edible fruit with numerous black seeds in a central cavity

also : its fruit

Examples of papaya in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Watermelon has a high glycemic index (GI) but a low glycemic load (GL), while papaya has a medium GI and a low GL, making both suitable for people monitoring blood sugar. — Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 25 Sep. 2026

The menu featured a farmer’s market salad with a Lao-style egg yolk dressing, papaya salad, yellowtail crudo with a yuzu coconut jeow and perilla, vegetable red curry, beef red curry, and the siu mai. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026

The collection featured a range of washed and faded colors such as azure, papaya and madder red that complemented the darker chocolate brown and black hues. — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

The pickled papaya salad on top lends the loveliest bit of sweet tang and a little crunch. — Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish, borrowed from Taino papaya (or from a cognate Arawakan word)

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for papaya

• messiah
• nyaya
• pariah
• rupiah
• shariah
• vinaya
• gaia
• maia
• maya
• playa
• via
• hezekiah

Kids Definition

papaya

noun

pa·​pa·​ya pə-ˈpī-ə 

: an oblong edible yellow fruit with many black seeds that grows on a tropical American tree with large leaves

also : the tree

Medical Definition

papaya

noun

pa·​pa·​ya pə-ˈpī-ə 

: a tropical American tree of the genus Carica (C. papaya) with large oblong yellow edible fruit

also : its fruit which is the source of papain