pumpkin

noun

pump·kin ˈpəm(p)-kən

nonstandard

ˈpəŋ-kən

often attributive

: a fruit of any of various cultivars of herbaceous plants (Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata, and C. mixta synonym 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

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

: a strong orange color

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web President Joe Biden on Thursday delivered at least half a dozen pumpkin pies to Massachusetts firefighters during a Thanksgiving Day show of appreciation and his toddler grandson walked away with a red fire hat topping his blond curls. —

Arkansas Online, 25 Nov. 2022 President Joe Biden on Thursday delivered at least half a dozen pumpkin pies to Massachusetts firefighters during a Thanksgiving Day show of appreciation and his toddler grandson walked away with a red fire hat topping his blond curls. —

Arkansas Online, 25 Nov. 2022 When Thanksgiving rolled around, these tender, flaky and lightly sweet treats were our version of the classic American pumpkin pie. —

Janelle Davis, CNN, 7 Feb. 2023 This pumpkin pie protein smoothie will put you right in the mood and keep you satiated for hours. —

Ashley Martens, Women's Health, 26 Jan. 2023 Flavors include almond, banana nut bread, black cherry chocolate chunk, cherry pecan, mint fudge crunch, peanut butter cheesecake, pumpkin pie ripple, raspberry swirl, strawberry kiwi sherbet, wedding cake and white chocolate Oreo. —

Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 3 Jan. 2023 The 26-year-old Jeremiah’s scoops gelato, soft-serve ice cream and 40 flavors of Italian ice, ranging from horchata and pumpkin pie to gingerbread and spicy hot chocolate. —

Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 16 Dec. 2022 President Joe Biden on Thursday delivered at least half a dozen pumpkin pies to Massachusetts firefighters during a Thanksgiving Day show of appreciation and his toddler grandson walked away with a red fire hat topping his blond curls. —

Darlene Superville, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pumpkin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of pumpkin was in 1664

See more words from the same year