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

Ozama is distilled, aged, and bottled in the country from Dominican sugarcane and even named after a river near where Ortiz grew up. —Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026

Unlike the sugarcane-ethanol success story, Brazil’s biodiesel, which is mostly made from soybeans, only makes up 14% of the diesel blend. —ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026

Sugar and sugarcane were likely first domesticated in New Guinea about 8000 bce and then spread through trade routes across Asia. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026

The juices of sugarcane, another grass, supply another 1,900 million metric tons. —Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026

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