sugarcane

noun

sug·​ar·​cane ˈshu̇-gər-ˌkān 

: a stout tall perennial grass (Saccharum officinarum) native to tropical southeast Asia that has a large terminal panicle and is widely grown in warm regions as a source of sugar

Illustration of sugarcane

Examples of sugarcane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mexico’s version of rum, made from both molasses and raw sugarcane juice, is a specialty of the state of Michoacán. —Ryan Craggs, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2025

What Are Cane Sugar and High-Fructose Corn Syrup? Cane sugar, also called sucrose, comes from sugarcane or sugar beets. —Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 6 Aug. 2025

Corn is in the same plant family as sugarcane, which allows for the extraction of sweetener from both. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 18 July 2025

Sucrose from sugarcane and sugar beets was the primary sweetener globally until 1957, according to Britannica. —Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 18 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sugarcane

• aeroplane
• appertain
• ascertain
• capitaine
• cassegrain
• cellophane
• chatelaine
• counterpane
• entertain
• gethsemane
• halothane
• hurricane

Kids Definition

sugarcane

noun

sug·​ar·​cane ˈshu̇g-ər-ˌkān 

: a tall tropical grass that has a thick jointed stem and is widely grown in warm regions as a source of sugar