: any of a genus (Plantago of the family Plantaginaceae, the plantain family) of herbs with basal rosettes of usually lanceolate or elliptical leaves and spikes of minute greenish flowers
1
: the angular greenish starchy fruit of the plantain that is a staple food in the tropics when cooked
2
: a banana plant (Musa paradisiaca)
Examples of plantain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Carolanne Griffith Roberts, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025
The cocktail menu is sensational (first-timers should get the classic Hurricane & Table) and flavorful dishes like the sweet plantains and fish rundown complement each other from start to finish.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2024
Add mashed ripe bananas or plantains to the pumpkin mix to add extra sweetness and a tender texture.
—Ashia Aubourg, Outside Online, 4 Oct. 2024
Quest shared how, in Côte d’Ivoire, infusing plantain into the distillation process of rums and roasting spices into cocktails is becoming increasingly popular.
—Shayna Conde, Essence, 4 Dec. 2024
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Noun
Round out your plate with Caribbean coleslaw and sticky sweet plantains plus Southern-style collards and cornbread.
—Carolanne Griffith Roberts, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025
The cocktail menu is sensational (first-timers should get the classic Hurricane & Table) and flavorful dishes like the sweet plantains and fish rundown complement each other from start to finish.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2024
Add mashed ripe bananas or plantains to the pumpkin mix to add extra sweetness and a tender texture.
—Ashia Aubourg, Outside Online, 4 Oct. 2024
Quest shared how, in Côte d’Ivoire, infusing plantain into the distillation process of rums and roasting spices into cocktails is becoming increasingly popular.
—Shayna Conde, Essence, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for plantain
Dictionary Entries Near plantain
Cite this Entry
“Plantain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plantain. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plantain
1 of 2 noun
plan·tain
ˈplant-ᵊn 
: any of several common weeds having a short stem or none at all, leaves with parallel veins, and a long stalk of tiny greenish flowers
plantain
2 of 2 noun
: the large greenish starchy fruit of a kind of banana plant that is eaten cooked and is an important food in the tropics
also
: this plant
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