sugarcane

noun

sug·​ar·​cane ˈshu̇-gər-ˌkān How to pronounce sugarcane (audio)
: a stout tall perennial grass (Saccharum officinarum) native to tropical southeast Asia that has a large terminal panicle and is widely grown in warm regions as a source of sugar

Illustration of sugarcane

Illustration of sugarcane

Examples of sugarcane 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.
Located in the Blue Dome District, this stylish spot features agave and sugarcane spirits. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026 The sugarcane bushes featured in Bad Bunny’s Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show back in February even make a cameo. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026 Local civil society groups estimate that up to 8,000 workers toil in the company’s sugarcane fields that span more than 173,700 acres. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 Like a runaway hack-hack-hacking through an antebellum field of sugarcane with a machete under a moonless midnight sky, Tate tore a new trail for us all. — Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sugarcane

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sugarcane was in the 15th century

Rhymes for sugarcane

See All Rhymes for sugarcane

Browse Nearby Words

sugar-candy
sugarcane
sugarcane beetle
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

sugarcane

noun
sug·​ar·​cane ˈshu̇g-ər-ˌkān How to pronounce sugarcane (audio)
: a tall tropical grass that has a thick jointed stem and is widely grown in warm regions as a source of sugar
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