plantain

1 of 2

noun (1)

plan·​tain ˈplan-tᵊn 

: 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 

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

Noun

At breakfast, there’s avocado toast, omelets, pancakes, and a traditional Costa Rican breakfast with eggs, plantains, rice and beans, pico de gallo, avocado slices, and soft white cheese made in-house. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026

There are also sandwiches including pan con lechon, pan con bistec and El Pio Pio, a spicy chicken sandwich, as well as the popular 305 bowl with white rice, black beans, mixed greens, sweet plantains and a choice of protein. —Connie Ogle march 4, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026

On the tea-time menu that Wednesday is Vazhakkai Bajji, green plantain slivers folded into spicy chickpea batter, deep-fried a crisp orange-brown and presented on a banana leaf with a coconut dipping chutney on the side. —Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026

Many grocery stores sell heat-and-serve frozen plantains too. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026

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

Phrases Containing plantain

• plantain lily
• rattlesnake plantain
• water plantain

Rhymes for plantain

• dilantin

Kids Definition

plantain

1 of 2 noun

plan·​tain ˈplant-ᵊn 

: 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 

: any plant of the genus Plantago