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.
Smoky and savory, our Cowboy Pot Roast is equally at home served over mashed potatoes, grits, or rice. Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025 Dump the potatoes into a large pot, add cold water to 2 inches above the top of the potatoes, and season the water with salt. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Oct. 2025 An employee threw the potato strips in the garbage. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025 Continue down the road toward Valldemossa, stopping in the town for a late-afternoon treat named coca de patata, a soft bun made with potato flour, from Ca’n Molinas. Emilio Parra Doiztua, New York Times, 16 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 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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