plantain

1 of 2

noun (1)

plan·​tain ˈplan-tᵊn How to pronounce plantain (audio)
: any of a genus (Plantago of the family Plantaginaceae, the plantain family) of herbs with basal rosettes of usually lanceolate or elliptical leaves and spikes of minute greenish flowers

plantain

2 of 2

noun (2)

plan·​tain plan-ˈtān How to pronounce plantain (audio)
ˈplan-ˌtān,
ˈplan-tᵊn
1
: the angular greenish starchy fruit of the plantain that is a staple food in the tropics when cooked
2
: a banana plant (Musa paradisiaca)

Examples of plantain in a Sentence

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.
Noun
Many tables indulged in the avocado dip with fried plantains, and pork belly noodles. Laura Ness, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2025 Research suggests that plantains—whether eaten alone or with beans—may help improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes potentially due to their high concentration of resistant starch. Lindsey Desoto, Health, 24 Apr. 2025 Servers dropped a plantain bread course, a warm loaf flecked with sea salt and crispy at the edges. Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2025 Culinary traditions, passed down and reimagined through generations, fuse African techniques with local ingredients to create signature dishes like mofongo, made from mashed plantains, and sancocho, a hearty stew of root vegetables and meat. Melissa Rose Cooper, Essence, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for plantain

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin plantagin-, plantago, from planta sole of the foot; from its broad leaves — more at place

Noun (2)

Spanish plántano, plátano plane tree, banana tree, from Medieval Latin plantanus plane tree, alteration of Latin platanus — more at plane entry 4

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of plantain was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plantain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plantain. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

plantain

1 of 2 noun
plan·​tain ˈplant-ᵊn How to pronounce plantain (audio)
: any of several common weeds having a short stem or none at all, leaves with parallel veins, and a long stalk of tiny greenish flowers

plantain

2 of 2 noun
: the large greenish starchy fruit of a kind of banana plant that is eaten cooked and is an important food in the tropics
also : this plant

Medical Definition

plantain

noun
plan·​tain ˈplant-ᵊn How to pronounce plantain (audio)
: any plant of the genus Plantago

More from Merriam-Webster on plantain

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