plural peas also pease ˈpēz How to pronounce pea (audio)
often attributive
1
a
: a variable annual Eurasian vine (Lathyrus oleraceus) of the legume family that is cultivated especially for its rounded smooth or wrinkled edible protein-rich seeds
b
: the seed of the pea
c
peas also pease plural : the immature pods of the pea with their included seeds
2
: any of various leguminous plants related to or resembling the pea
usually used in combination or with a qualifying term
chickpea
black-eyed pea
also : the seed of such a plant
3
: something resembling a pea (as in size or shape)

Illustration of pea

Illustration of pea
  • pea 1a

Examples of pea in a Sentence

We're growing tomatoes and peas in our garden this year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Secretly, her doubters place a single pea under the mattress on the bottom. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025 Though consuming peas is associated with a long list of health benefits, some potential side effects exist: Green peas contain antinutrients, which may interfere with digestion and the absorption of some nutrients.11 However, for most people, antinutrients in peas aren’t a cause for concern. Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 10 July 2025 Wednesday, July 16, Pork Chop, wild rice, peas, Mandarin oranges, milk. Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2025 Weiser, a farm known especially for its melons, was offering lush bouquets of pea shoots, delicate white flowers and crisp, shapely pods sprouting from curling tendrils, pretty enough to display in a vase. Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for pea

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from Middle English pease (taken as a plural), from Old English pise, from Latin pisa, plural of pisum, from Greek pison

First Known Use

1666, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of pea was in 1666

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pea. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

pea

noun
plural peas also pease ˈpēz How to pronounce pea (audio)
1
a
: a plant of the legume family that is widely grown for its pods of protein-rich edible rounded seeds
b
: the seed of a pea
2
: a plant (as the sweet pea) related to the pea

More from Merriam-Webster on pea

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!