spinach

noun

spin·​ach ˈspi-nich 

1

: an Asian herb (Spinacia oleracea) of the amaranth family cultivated for its edible leaves which form in a dense basal rosette

also : its leaves

2

a

: something unwanted, pretentious, or spurious

b

: an untidy overgrowth

spinachlike

ˈspi-nich-ˌlīk 

adjective

spinachy

ˈspi-ni-chē 

adjective

Examples of spinach in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pimiento cheese, chicken salad, spinach dip, and salsa—cold food items—can all be served in the nifty Crofton Dip Chiller Bowls that are on sale this week at ALDI. — Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 25 June 2026

Tien, wearing tennis shorts and an oversized white T-shirt that threatens to dwarf his modest frame, is eating an omelet from the players cafeteria, but someone seems to have forgotten his spinach. — Jake Nevins, Vogue, 25 June 2026

Practicality and lineage, with recipes that capture south Louisiana, like mini crawfish pies, and those that honor the homeland, like African spinach stew, anchor Boudy’s story in the now and the omnipresent before. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 25 June 2026

Customers lined up to try peach cobbler, lemon lavender, everything spinach and feta scones. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English spinache, from Anglo-French, alteration of Old French espinaces, from Medieval Latin spinachium, ultimately from Arabic isfānākh, from Pers

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

spinach

noun

spin·​ach ˈspin-ich 

: a widely grown plant with dark green leaves that are used as food

also : the leaves