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

As the sugarcane industry expanded, skilled workers and entrepreneurs from India came to manage the needs of the growing colony. —David Frum, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026

Half of the sugarcane damage is projected as future production losses. —Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026

Indeed, the halftime show’s setting in a sugarcane field highlights the sugar and rum production in the Caribbean, industries at the heart of the Colonial systems and slave trade that shaped our history. —Lara N. Dotson-Renta, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026

Hidden inside the sugarcane grass beside him were humans hired to stand there in costume. —Angela Yang, NBC news, 10 Feb. 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