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sugarcane

noun

sug·​ar·​cane ˈshu̇-gər-ˌkān How to pronounce sugarcane (audio)
: 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

Illustration of sugarcane

Examples of sugarcane 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.
The shoes include a waterproof leather exterior, a dual-density sugarcane midsole to eliminate foot fatigue and increase cushioning, and the same Vibram Megagrip across other Hoka styles for sticky traction on tough terrains. Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2025 Together, the organizations will advance the latter’s Climate Resilience Platform (CRP) to extend its scope to sugarcane producers, across Latin America, Southern Africa, Southern Asia and Southeast Asia, as well as cotton growers in India and Brazil. Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 26 Nov. 2025 This was proved true when someone reported to my parents that I’d been seen eating sugarcane in the middle of Flatbush Avenue on a hot summer day. Edwidge Danticat, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025 Where once these trees stood in the island of Negros, sugarcane now dominates, all benefiting the hacenderos who welcomed the American lumbermen to clear the forests for later agricultural conversion. JSTOR Daily, 19 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sugarcane

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

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Cite this Entry

“Sugarcane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sugarcane. Accessed 6 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

sugarcane

noun
sug·​ar·​cane ˈshu̇g-ər-ˌkān How to pronounce sugarcane (audio)
: a tall tropical grass that has a thick jointed stem and is widely grown in warm regions as a source of sugar
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