1
: any of several South American shrubs (genus Erythroxylon, family Erythroxylaceae)
especially
: one (E. coca) that is the primary source of cocaine
2
: dried leaves of a coca (especially Erythroxylon coca) containing alkaloids including cocaine
Examples of coca in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Catatumbo remains the epicenter, with more than 42,000 hectares of coca crops —the third-largest concentration in Colombia— yielding over 330 tons annually.
—
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
The armed group controls tens of thousands of acres of coca plantations and has gained significant political leverage as President Gustavo Petro’s Administration scrambles to secure agreements with armed groups critical to advancing Colombia’s broader peace talks and anti-narcotics efforts.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the South American country is among the world's top three producers of coca bush—the plant from which coca leaves are processed to produce cocaine.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
But unlike past governments, manual eradication of coca crops under Petro’s leadership has slowed, to barely 5,048 hectares this year — far less than the 68,000 hectares uprooted in the final year of his conservative predecessor’s term and well below the government’s own goal of 30,000 hectares.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
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Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
The armed group controls tens of thousands of acres of coca plantations and has gained significant political leverage as President Gustavo Petro’s Administration scrambles to secure agreements with armed groups critical to advancing Colombia’s broader peace talks and anti-narcotics efforts.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the South American country is among the world's top three producers of coca bush—the plant from which coca leaves are processed to produce cocaine.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
But unlike past governments, manual eradication of coca crops under Petro’s leadership has slowed, to barely 5,048 hectares this year — far less than the 68,000 hectares uprooted in the final year of his conservative predecessor’s term and well below the government’s own goal of 30,000 hectares.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coca
Cite this Entry
“Coca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coca. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coca
noun
co·ca
ˈkō-kə 
: a South American shrub with leaves that are the source of cocaine
also
: its dried leaves
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