legume

noun

le·​gume ˈle-ˌgyüm  li-ˈgyüm 

plural legumes

1

a

: the dry fruit of plants of the legume family (such as peas or beans) that develops from a single carpel of a flower and usually splits into two halves with seeds attached to the seam of one half : pod entry 1 sense 1

b

: the fruit or seeds of a legume plant (such as the peanut or tamarind) used for food

2

: any of a large family (Fabaceae synonym Leguminosae, the legume family) of dicotyledonous plants that have fruits that are legumes and roots with nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria and that includes important food and forage plants (such as peas, beans, or clovers)

Examples of legume in a Sentence

recipes that include legumes like lentils and chickpeas

Recent Examples on the Web

Avoid planting them in areas where other legumes have been grown over the past two years, and look for pea varieties known for their shoots and tendrils. — The Spruce, 24 Sep. 2026

Beano, which contains alpha-galactosidase, targets the gas and bloating that can follow a meal heavy in legumes. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026

Maintaining a healthy body weight for you and following a diet consisting of whole foods, such as whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and lean meats, can provide nutrients that support liver health. — Merve Ceylan, HEALTH, 9 Sep. 2026

It could be paired with the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes vegetables, fruits, beans and legumes, whole grains, nuts, fish, and unsaturated fats. — Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French légume, from Latin legumin-, legumen leguminous plant, from legere to gather — more at legend

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for legume

• assume
• backroom
• ballroom
• barroom
• bathroom
• bedroom
• boardroom
• bridegroom
• classroom
• cloakroom
• consume
• costume

Kids Definition

legume

noun

leg·​ume

ˈleg-ˌyüm, 

li-ˈgyüm

1

a

: any of a large family of herbs, shrubs, and trees that have fruits which are dry single-celled pods that split into two pieces when ripe, that bear nodules on the roots that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and that include important food plants (as peas, beans, or clovers)

b

: the part (as seeds or pods) of a legume used as food

2

: the pod of a legume

Medical Definition

legume

noun

le·​gume ˈleg-ˌyüm  li-ˈgyüm 

1

: the fruit or seed of leguminous plants (as peas or beans) used for food

2

: any plant of the family Fabaceae (synonym Leguminosae)