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

Canned pumpkin puree is made from the Dickinson pumpkin, which is less watery than other varieties. — Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

My hearty pumpkin soup, served with a basket of delicious fresh bread, was the perfect start to the meal. — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 5 Nov. 2026

Sow Right Seeds Pumpkin Seeds While this method of fall decor may take longer than ordering a premade item online, for those who have space, planting your own variety of pumpkins can produce all-natural homegrown decorations. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026

The beaming toddler could be seen crouching over a large pumpkin outside while wearing a navy blue rain jacket, blue jeans that were cuffed at the bottom, and a pair of orange boots. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 3 Nov. 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