pumpkin

noun

pump·​kin ˈpəm(p)-kən 

nonstandard

ˈpəŋ-kən 

often attributive

1

a

: a fruit of any of various cultivars of herbaceous plants (Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata, C. ficifolia, and C. argyrosperma) of the gourd family that is typically round and orange but may be another color or shape, that has a hard usually smooth skin with shallow longitudinal grooves, and that is grown for ornamental use or for its fibrous pale flesh used especially in baking or as feed for livestock

b

: any of several annual chiefly trailing American plants that bear pumpkins

2

: a strong orange color

Examples of pumpkin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike its ghost and black cat pillow counterparts, the pumpkin works as Halloween décor but is still neutral enough to keep out past October 31. — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

The giant pumpkin was weighed last week at the Bluegrass Championship Weigh-Off in Kentucky, known also for large watermelons. — Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

Add the pumpkin puree and stir well, cover partially (the mixture will get bubbly and spatter), reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Mini Spicy Pumpkin Samosas These bite-size samosas put a seasonal spin on a freezer favorite, combining pumpkin with a little heat. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier pumpion, modification of French popon, pompon melon, pumpkin, from Latin pepon-, pepo, from Greek pepōn, from pepōn ripened; akin to Greek pessein to cook, ripen — more at cook

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pumpkin

• Japanese pumpkin
• kabocha pumpkin
• kobocha pumpkin
• pumpkin pie spice
• pumpkin spice
• pumpkin spiced

Rhymes for pumpkin

• bumpkin
• lumpkin

Kids Definition

pumpkin

noun

pump·​kin ˈpəm(p)-kən 

1

: the usually round orange fruit of a vine of the gourd family widely used as food

also : a fruit (as a crookneck squash) of a closely related vine

2

: a usually hairy prickly vine that produces pumpkins

3

: a strong orange color

Medical Definition

pumpkin

noun

pump·​kin ˈpəm(p)-kən 

: the usually round orange fruit of a vine (Cucurbita pepo) of the gourd family that is widely cultivated as food and is the source of pepo