coconut

noun

co·​co·​nut ˈkō-kə-(ˌ)nət How to pronounce coconut (audio)
1
: the drupaceous fruit of the coconut palm whose outer fibrous husk yields coir and whose nut contains thick edible meat and, in the fresh fruit, a clear liquid (see coconut water)
2
: the edible meat of the coconut

Examples of coconut in a Sentence

The pastry is covered with shredded coconut.
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.
Unreal’s dark chocolate coconut bars got my family through living together during COVID. — Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 Bongulo Paneer — cooked in bamboo, served with a coconut and capsicum poriyal that blends peanut chutney, acidic gongura sour cream and fiery gunpowder. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026 In one photo, Duff posed on the sand holding a fresh coconut decorated with a flower, while wearing oversized sunglasses and a dark baseball cap. — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 The trees are the legacy of coconut plantations established more than a century ago. — Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for coconut

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of coconut was in 1599

Phrases Containing coconut

Rhymes for coconut

See All Rhymes for coconut

Browse Nearby Words

Coconuco
coconut
coconut brown
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coconut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coconut. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

coconut

noun
co·​co·​nut ˈkō-kə-(ˌ)nət How to pronounce coconut (audio)
: the large egg-shaped husk-covered fruit of the coconut palm

Medical Definition

coconut

noun
co·​co·​nut ˈkō-kə-(ˌ)nət How to pronounce coconut (audio)
1
: the fruit of the coconut palm having an outer fibrous husk with a nut containing thick edible meat and coconut milk
2
: the edible meat of the coconut

More from Merriam-Webster on coconut

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coconut

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