1
: the drupaceous fruit of the coconut palm whose outer fibrous husk yields coir and whose nut contains thick edible meat and, in the fresh fruit, a clear liquid (see coconut water)
2
: the edible meat of the coconut

Examples of coconut in a Sentence

The pastry is covered with shredded coconut.
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.
Sometimes, that’s a big yay, as with the South Asian lentil dumplings called faraa, which wallow in a luscious coconut cream with fresh chanterelles that’s like carbonara for vegans. — John Kessler, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 How many Japanese women wash their face and hands in the morning with coconut soap? — Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026 Don’t forget to try their hibiscus lemonade and their bowl acevichado, a mix of roasted salmon ceviche, avocado, peppers, marinated in coconut cream and served with rice and plantain. — Nikkita Nair, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 Topo Chico, a carbonated mineral water product, will launch a pineapple-coconut flavor in February, building on its existing lineup of fruit flavors, which include raspberry with lemon, passionfruit and tropical mango, among others. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for coconut

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of coconut was in 1599

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coconut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coconut. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

: the large egg-shaped husk-covered fruit of the coconut palm

Medical Definition

1
: the fruit of the coconut palm having an outer fibrous husk with a nut containing thick edible meat and coconut milk
2
: the edible meat of the coconut

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