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potato

noun

po·​ta·​to pə-ˈtā-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce potato (audio)
-tə
dialectal pə-ˈdā-
bə- How to pronounce potato (audio)
plural potatoes
often attributive
1
2
a
: an erect South American herb (Solanum tuberosum) of the nightshade family widely cultivated for its edible starchy tuber
b
: the tuber of a potato

called also Irish potato, spud, white potato

Illustration of potato

Illustration of potato
  • potato 2a

Examples of potato in a Sentence

She's growing carrots and potatoes in her 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.
Across four separate sessions, participants consumed either 50 grams of sucrose or glucose—another type of sugar found in foods like grapes, corn, potatoes, and energy drinks—with or without 10 grams of raspberry leaf tea. Christina Manian, Health, 5 Dec. 2025 For senior Elijah Lowen, that meant plating a garden herb chicken with supreme sauce, mashed potatoes, and sautéed broccoli. Brian Unger, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025 Consider using nutmeg on savory dishes, such as mashed potatoes, soups, and pasta. Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 5 Dec. 2025 This is because barley, like oats and potatoes, forms resistant starch when it is cooked and cooled. Desireé Oostland, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for potato

Word History

Etymology

Spanish batata, from Taino

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of potato was in 1565

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Potato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potato. Accessed 11 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

potato

noun
po·​ta·​to pə-ˈtāt-ō How to pronounce potato (audio) pət-ˈāt- How to pronounce potato (audio)
plural potatoes
1
2
a
: an erect South American herb widely cultivated for its thick starchy edible underground tubers
b
: one of these edible tubers

called also Irish potato, spud, white potato

More from Merriam-Webster on potato

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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