often attributive
1
a
: a fruit of any of various cultivars of herbaceous plants (Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata, C. ficifolia, and C. argyrosperma) of the gourd family that is typically round and orange but may be another color or shape, that has a hard usually smooth skin with shallow longitudinal grooves, and that is grown for ornamental use or for its fibrous pale flesh used especially in baking or as feed for livestock
b
: any of several annual chiefly trailing American plants that bear pumpkins
2
: a strong orange color

Examples of pumpkin 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.
Scoop them out of pumpkins, or buy them with or without shells. Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026 Be sure to squeeze out as much air as possible from the container or zip-top bag before freezing the fresh pumpkin puree. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026 But despite its namesake, pumpkins aren’t center stage during opening weekend — watermelons are. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 The pumpkin, perhaps the most recognizable motifs in her oeuvre today, became increasingly prominent in her work during this period. Tessa Solomon For Artnews, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pumpkin

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier pumpion, modification of French popon, pompon melon, pumpkin, from Latin pepon-, pepo, from Greek pepōn, from pepōn ripened; akin to Greek pessein to cook, ripen — more at cook

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of pumpkin was in 1664

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pumpkin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pumpkin. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: the usually round orange fruit of a vine of the gourd family widely used as food
also : a fruit (as a crookneck squash) of a closely related vine
2
: a usually hairy prickly vine that produces pumpkins
3
: a strong orange color

Medical Definition

: the usually round orange fruit of a vine (Cucurbita pepo) of the gourd family that is widely cultivated as food and is the source of pepo

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