pecan

noun

pe·​can pi-ˈkän How to pronounce pecan (audio) -ˈkan How to pronounce pecan (audio) ˈpē-ˌkan How to pronounce pecan (audio)
1
: a large hickory (Carya illinoinensis synonym C. oliviformis) that has roughish bark and hard but brittle wood and is widely grown in the warmer parts of the U.S. and in Mexico for its edible nut
2
: the wood of the pecan tree
The hardwood floor was made of pecan.
3
: the smooth oblong thin-shelled nut of the pecan tree
bought some pecans to make a pie

Examples of pecan 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.
Of course, avid Southern bakers will always have a bottle of Karo Syrup for pecan pies and other homemade candies. — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025 Pumpkin, cherry, pecan and peach round out Ohio's top five. — Andrew King, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025 Don’t miss their renowned appetizer, fried Castelvetrano olives with Texas pecans. — Visit Dallas, AFAR Media, 6 Mar. 2025 India has also raised the prospect of lower duties on goods like bourbon and pecans, which are produced mainly in Republican states. — John Yoon, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pecan

Word History

Etymology

American French pacane, from Illinois pakani

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pecan was in 1761

Rhymes for pecan

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Browse Nearby Words

Peć
pecan
pecan brown
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Cite this Entry

“Pecan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pecan. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

pecan

noun
pe·​can pi-ˈkän How to pronounce pecan (audio) -ˈkan How to pronounce pecan (audio)
: an oblong edible nut that usually has a thin shell and is the fruit of a tall tree of the central and southern U.S.
also : this tree which is one of the hickories

More from Merriam-Webster on pecan

Nglish: Translation of pecan for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pecan

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