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

Head chef and owner Diego Briones has created an accomplished, light-hearted menu with hero European ingredients such as white asparagus, accompanied by more unusual combinations like coconut and green papaya. —Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 8 May 2026

The baby is the size of a slice of papaya. —Literary Hub, 8 May 2026

The offerings include a (from left, above) rich Post Shave Body Balm, papaya extract Sugar Scrub, softening Shave Oil, hydrating (and transparent) Shave Butter and a 6-Blade Razor — all priced at $10 and under — that elevate the experience from start to finish. —Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026

One way to obtain early fruit quickly is to try growing papaya (Carica papaya), a shrub that rapidly develops into a tree-like plant. —Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 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