: 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
Maliah West, AFAR Media, 23 July 2025
Another showed Prevost holding up a plantain as a Eucharist, symbolizing the body of Christ.
—Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
Midtown Global Market’s Irie Jamaican serves oxtail (jerk or barbecue) with festival (a sweet, fried bread); sweet plantains; coconut shrimp skewers; and a ginger and hibiscus drink.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 9 July 2025
The sweetness of fried plantains perfectly complemented the savory and cheesy pupusas, while the beans were well seasoned — a surprising standout.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for plantain
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Noun
Fried sweet plantain is placed in a thick sauce of chocolate, sesame, pumpkin seeds, tomatoes, and chiles.
—Maliah West, AFAR Media, 23 July 2025
Another showed Prevost holding up a plantain as a Eucharist, symbolizing the body of Christ.
—Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
Midtown Global Market’s Irie Jamaican serves oxtail (jerk or barbecue) with festival (a sweet, fried bread); sweet plantains; coconut shrimp skewers; and a ginger and hibiscus drink.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 9 July 2025
The sweetness of fried plantains perfectly complemented the savory and cheesy pupusas, while the beans were well seasoned — a surprising standout.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for plantain
Cite this Entry
“Plantain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plantain. Accessed 29 Jul. 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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