pecan

noun

pe·​can pi-ˈkän  -ˈkan  ˈpē-ˌkan 

1

: a large hickory (Carya illinoinensis synonym C. oliviformis) that has roughish bark and hard but brittle wood and is widely grown in the warmer parts of the U.S. and in Mexico for its edible nut

2

: the wood of the pecan tree

The hardwood floor was made of pecan.

3

: the smooth oblong thin-shelled nut of the pecan tree

bought some pecans to make a pie

Examples of pecan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, the cookie butter product was also packaged in the pecan, cranberry and cinnamon packages, which caused undeclared wheat to the present, the FDA said. —Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025

The hills of their property are stacked with a variety of fruit and nut trees–from apples, pears, avocados and pistachios to lychees, mangoes, pecans and chestnuts. —Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025

But because pecans aren’t that sweet, people often add a lot of sugar, Arévalo says. —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 25 Nov. 2025

In a salad bowl, combine the lettuce, turkey, pecans, cranberries, and Parmesan cheese. —Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

American French pacane, from Illinois pakani

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pecan

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

pecan

noun

pe·​can pi-ˈkän  -ˈkan 

: an oblong edible nut that usually has a thin shell and is the fruit of a tall tree of the central and southern U.S.

also : this tree which is one of the hickories