strawberry

noun

straw·​ber·​ry ˈstrȯ-ˌber-ē How to pronounce strawberry (audio)
-b(ə-)rē
often attributive
1
: the juicy edible usually red fruit of any of several low-growing temperate herbs (genus Fragaria) of the rose family that is technically an enlarged pulpy receptacle bearing numerous achenes on its surface
2
: a plant whose fruits are strawberries
especially : a hybrid (Fragaria ananassa) that is the source of most cultivated strawberries

Illustration of strawberry

Illustration of strawberry

Examples of strawberry 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.
During a four-day jaunt to the United States in 1939, King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, devoured hot dogs and strawberry shortcake at the Hyde Park home of then-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026 To cap off your adventure, pop by The Dock, a tiki bar located directly on the beach, for an ice-cold island punch cocktail or a frozen Miami Vice (a piña-colada-and-strawberry-margarita twist). Kate Van Dyke, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026 The scones are served alongside clotted cream, strawberry jam and a strawberry on top. Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026 The ice cream bars have vanilla low-fat ice cream with a strawberry core and a crunchy cake coating. Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for strawberry

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English strēawberige, from strēaw straw + berige berry; perhaps from the appearance of the achenes on the surface

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of strawberry was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Strawberry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strawberry. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

strawberry

noun
straw·​ber·​ry ˈstrȯ-ˌber-ē How to pronounce strawberry (audio)
-b(ə-)rē
: an edible juicy red fruit of a low-growing herb with white flowers and long slender runners
also : a plant that bears strawberries

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