pumpkin

noun

pump·​kin ˈpəm(p)-kən How to pronounce pumpkin (audio)
nonstandard
ˈpəŋ-kən How to pronounce pumpkin (audio)
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
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.
The pumpkin is almost half the size of the boy, and his untied shoelaces become an unseen hazard. Arkansas Online, 22 May 2025 Allow the strongest, most vigorous growers to remain, leaving two plants per mound for vining pumpkins, one plant per mound for miniature and bush-type pumpkins. Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025 Pumpkin Potassium: 564 mg Serving size: 1 cup cooked Though pumpkin is a seasonal fall squash, it can also be eaten throughout the year. Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 20 May 2025 Hotel Eiger Mürren For an elegant dinner, book a table by the window at the restaurant in Hotel Eiger Mürren, where dishes highlight local ingredients like Vaud province cheese and soup made with Lauterbrunnen Valley pumpkins. Noelle Salmi, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pumpkin

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

Cite this Entry

“Pumpkin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pumpkin. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

pumpkin

noun
pump·​kin ˈpəm(p)-kən How to pronounce pumpkin (audio)
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 How to pronounce pumpkin (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on pumpkin

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