banana

noun

ba·​nana bə-ˈna-nə 

especially British -ˈnä-

1

: an elongated usually tapering tropical fruit with soft pulpy flesh enclosed in a soft usually yellow rind

a bunch of bananas

slipped on a banana peel

2

: any of several widely cultivated perennial often treelike herbs (genus Musa of the family Musaceae, the banana family) bearing bananas in compact pendent bunches

Illustration of banana

• banana 2

Examples of banana in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a second bowl, mash the bananas, then add sugar, butter and eggs, and mix well. — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026

The robot had to remove the lid, pick up the banana and place it on the plate, while adjusting its actions if a person interfered or an attempt failed. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026

There’s even a dessert cocktail, Irish Silk, made with Basil Hayden Toast bourbon, coffee, Bailey’s Irish Cream and house-made banana demerara syrup. — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 29 Sep. 2026

The farmer, who operates similar banana farms in Davie, planted 1,000 banana plants on the lot. — Larry Seward, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish or Portuguese; Spanish, from Portuguese, of African origin; akin to Wolof banaana banana

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing banana

• banana bread
• banana clip
• banana oil
• banana pepper
• banana republic
• banana seat
• banana split
• second banana
• slip on a banana skin/peel
• top banana

Rhymes for banana

• arana
• arcana
• bandana
• bandanna
• brahmana
• cabana
• campana
• diana
• fianna
• hosanna
• hyaena
• lantana

Kids Definition

banana

noun

ba·​nana bə-ˈnan-ə 

: a treelike tropical plant with large leaves and flower clusters that develop into a bunch of finger-shaped fruit which are usually yellow when ripe

also : its fruit