eggplant

noun

egg·​plant ˈeg-ˌplant 

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

Choices on the menu include lobster rangoons, green gazpacho, tandoori-scented eggplant and duck-confit-egg tostadas. —Jane Godiner, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026

For this recipe, fresh summer eggplant and bell peppers are grilled au naturel, showered in mint, basil, and peanuts, and drizzled with a Vietnamese sauce called nuoc cham. —Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 28 Apr. 2026

Root-knot nematodes are one of the biggest pest problems for eggplants, and marigolds' strong smell is excellent for repelling nematodes. —Heather Bien, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026

According to Headrick, carpenter bees also pollinate nonnative species such as blueberries, melons, tomatoes, eggplant and squash. —Sarah Linn april 24, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing eggplant

• Japanese eggplant

Rhymes for eggplant

• decant
• descant
• enchant
• explant
• implant
• preplant
• recant
• replant
• secant
• supplant
• transplant
• ant

Kids Definition

eggplant

noun

egg·​plant -ˌplant 

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