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

With four meats to choose from, each 6-inch sub has fewer than 500 calories, at least 20 grams of protein and a full-serving size of vegetables, according to the sandwich chain. —Helena Wegner, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025

Packed with flavorful vegetables and enhanced with bacon, this is the ultimate comfort food. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025

Adjective

Other health-centric amenities include a pool and outdoor showers, a sauna, and a vegetable garden that supplies fresh herbs to the hotel’s tavern-style restaurant. —Zoe Dubno, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2025

There are rare species of plants, a bamboo grove, a vegetable garden, all offering infinite opportunities for immersive relaxation. —Kim Westerman, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 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