vegetable

1 of 2

noun

veg·​e·​ta·​ble ˈvej-tə-bəl 

ˈve-jə-,

ˈvech-

1

: a usually herbaceous plant (such as the cabbage, bean, or potato) grown for an edible part that is usually eaten as part of a meal

also : such an edible part

2

: plant sense 1b

3

a

: a person having a dull or merely physical existence

b

informal + sometimes offensive : a person whose mental and physical functioning is severely impaired and especially one who requires supportive measures (such as mechanical ventilation) to survive

vegetable

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: of, relating to, constituting, or growing like plants

b

: consisting of plants : vegetational

2

: made from, obtained from, or containing plants or plant products

vegetable soup

vegetable fat

3

: resembling or suggesting a plant (as in inertness or passivity)

Examples of vegetable in a Sentence

Noun

The doctor said I should eat more fruits and vegetables.

a bowl of vegetable soup

The accident had left him a vegetable.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

David pulled a vegetable out of the ground, revealing an unusually short carrot with two split ends. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025

Broiling adds a brown, crispy finish to breadcrumbs, roasted meats, cheesy lasagnas, and sheet-pan vegetables. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Also ideal for a vegetable garden and other flowers, each metal bed has an open base that prevents water accumulation and protects a plant’s root system from rotting. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025

Use that time to rustle up a quick salad or a vegetable side, and then dinner is served. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin vegetābilia, plural noun derivative of vegetābilis vegetable entry 2

Adjective

Middle English, "capable of growth, of or like plants (able to grow but lacking motion or sensation)," borrowed from Medieval Latin vegetābilis, going back to Late Latin, "vivifying, refreshing," from vegetāre "to live, grow" + Latin -bilis "capable of (acting or being acted upon)" — more at vegetate, -able

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing vegetable

• green vegetable
• root vegetable
• textured vegetable protein
• vegetable ivory
• vegetable marrow
• vegetable oil
• vegetable oyster
• vegetable pear
• vegetable wax

Kids Definition

vegetable

1 of 2 adjective

veg·​e·​ta·​ble ˈvej-tə-bəl 

ˈvej-ət-ə-bəl

1

: of, relating to, consisting of, or growing like plants

vegetable growth

2

: made from, obtained from, or containing plants or plant products

vegetable soup

vegetable

2 of 2 noun

1

: plant entry 2 sense 1

2

: a leafy plant (as the cabbage, bean, or potato) usually without woody tissue grown for an edible part that is usually eaten as part of a meal

also : such an edible part

Medical Definition

vegetable

1 of 2 adjective

veg·​e·​ta·​ble ˈvej-tə-bəl, ˈvej-ət-ə- 

1

a

: of, relating to, constituting, or growing like plants

b

: consisting of plants

2

: made or obtained from plants or plant products

vegetable

2 of 2 noun

1

: a usually herbaceous plant (as the cabbage, bean, or potato) grown for an edible part

also : such an edible part

2

: a person whose mental and physical functioning is severely impaired and especially one who requires supportive measures (as intravenous feeding or mechanical ventilation) to survive