eggplant

noun

egg·​plant ˈeg-ˌplant How to pronounce eggplant (audio)
ˈāg-
1
a
: a widely cultivated perennial Asian herb (Solanum melongena) of the nightshade family yielding edible fruit
b
: the usually smooth ovoid typically blackish-purple or white fruit of the eggplant
2
: a dark grayish or blackish purple

Examples of eggplant in a Sentence

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.
Among others, Dover sole meunière, beef tenderloin with green pepper sauce and eggplant parmigiana round out the menu. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 So are the Catholic lawn ornaments and gardens sprouting eggplants and figs. — Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026 In SouthPark or South Charlotte, Little Mamas offers family-sized portions of chicken or eggplant Parmesan ($53 and $32, respectively) that feed two to three people — and that’s likely to stretch further with little ones. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2026 Decades-old recipes for authentic Italian cuisine like lasagna with meatballs, veal piccata, and eggplant parmigiano make this a neighborhood favorite. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for eggplant

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of eggplant was in 1767

Phrases Containing eggplant

Rhymes for eggplant

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Browse Nearby Words

egg picking
eggplant
egg powder
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Cite this Entry

“Eggplant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eggplant. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

eggplant

noun
egg·​plant -ˌplant How to pronounce eggplant (audio)
1
: a widely cultivated herb that is related to the potato and yields edible fruit
2
: the usually glossy blackish purple egg-shaped fruit of an eggplant

More from Merriam-Webster on eggplant

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about eggplant

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