strawberry

noun

often attributive
1
: the juicy edible usually red fruit of any of several low-growing temperate herbs (genus Fragaria) of the rose family that is technically an enlarged pulpy receptacle bearing numerous achenes on its surface
2
: a plant whose fruits are strawberries
especially : a hybrid (Fragaria ananassa) that is the source of most cultivated strawberries

Illustration of strawberry

Illustration of strawberry

Examples of strawberry 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.
My favorite fruits to buy are cherries, blueberries, bananas, apples, strawberries, blackberries, mangos and oranges. Jeremy London, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026 These ultra-thin pancakes are made using a wheat-flour batter and are spread with a layer of both savory peanut butter and a sweet strawberry filling. Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 6 Aug. 2026 In the opening pages, Molly, an extrovert to Anna’s introvert, has bought strawberries from a fruit hawker. Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 The temptation to sniff the pages for a vanilla silence or a strawberry silence is almost overwhelming. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for strawberry

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English strēawberige, from strēaw straw + berige berry; perhaps from the appearance of the achenes on the surface

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of strawberry was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Strawberry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strawberry. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

strawberry

noun
: an edible juicy red fruit of a low-growing herb with white flowers and long slender runners
also : a plant that bears strawberries

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