Illustration of sugarcane
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
Examples of sugarcane in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Every year, after a successful sugarcane harvest, plantation owners would allow enslaved Africans to celebrate with drinks, drums and dancing.
—
Zahra Spencer, Essence, 12 Sep. 2023
Their father, Gordon, worked in the sugarcane fields while their mother, Mary, raised the 12 children, six boys and six girls.
—Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2023
Key ingredients: Mushroom extract, bilberry extract, sugarcane extract, white willow bark
Skin type: All
Size: 1 oz.
—ELLE, 31 Aug. 2023
Business investors eventually replaced traditional Hawaiian agriculture with a plantation economy, primarily growing sugarcane and pineapples.
—Tori Otten, The New Republic, 27 Aug. 2023
Insider Tip: Don't skip the sugarcane juice with kumquat.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2023
Distilled from fresh pressed sugarcane juice rather than molasses, which is a sugarcane by-product, the finished rum has a distinct flavor profile as a result—grassy, lightly sweet, a bit vegetal.
—Tony Sachs, Robb Report, 2 June 2023
Influence of the sugar industry on the region Farmers burn sugarcane to destroy unneeded leaves so it can be harvested more easily and efficiently.
—Patrice Gaines, NBC News, 10 May 2023
That area had once been used for sugarcane farming, according to state records, and was now fallow fields.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2023
See More
Zahra Spencer, Essence, 12 Sep. 2023
Their father, Gordon, worked in the sugarcane fields while their mother, Mary, raised the 12 children, six boys and six girls.
—Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2023
Key ingredients: Mushroom extract, bilberry extract, sugarcane extract, white willow bark
Skin type: All
Size: 1 oz.
—ELLE, 31 Aug. 2023
Business investors eventually replaced traditional Hawaiian agriculture with a plantation economy, primarily growing sugarcane and pineapples.
—Tori Otten, The New Republic, 27 Aug. 2023
Insider Tip: Don't skip the sugarcane juice with kumquat.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2023
Distilled from fresh pressed sugarcane juice rather than molasses, which is a sugarcane by-product, the finished rum has a distinct flavor profile as a result—grassy, lightly sweet, a bit vegetal.
—Tony Sachs, Robb Report, 2 June 2023
Influence of the sugar industry on the region Farmers burn sugarcane to destroy unneeded leaves so it can be harvested more easily and efficiently.
—Patrice Gaines, NBC News, 10 May 2023
That area had once been used for sugarcane farming, according to state records, and was now fallow fields.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sugarcane.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of sugarcane was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near sugarcane
Cite this Entry
“Sugarcane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sugarcane. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share