potato

noun

po·​ta·​to pə-ˈtā-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce potato (audio)
-tə
dialectal pə-ˈdā-, 
bə- How to pronounce potato (audio)
plural potatoes
often attributive
1
: sweet potato
2
a
: an erect South American herb (Solanum tuberosum) of the nightshade family widely cultivated for its edible starchy tuber
b
: the tuber of a potato

called also Irish potato, spud, white potato

Illustration of potato

Illustration of potato
  • potato 2a

Examples of potato in a Sentence

She's growing carrots and potatoes in her garden this year.
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.
Instead of mashed potatoes pretending to be ice cream, restaurants can now advertise food that never sat in front of a camera at all. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026 In another study, mixing in lentils with rice or instant potatoes resulted in lower blood sugar than eating the rice or potatoes alone. — Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2026 Be sure to order a side of the crispy potatoes and the zingy herb salad. — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026 The important distinction is between a sweet potato and a regular potato. — Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for potato

Word History

Etymology

Spanish batata, from Taino

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of potato was in 1565

Phrases Containing potato

Rhymes for potato

See All Rhymes for potato

Browse Nearby Words

potation
potato
potato alcohol
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Potato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potato. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

potato

noun
po·​ta·​to pə-ˈtāt-ō How to pronounce potato (audio) pət-ˈāt- How to pronounce potato (audio)
plural potatoes
1
: sweet potato sense 1
2
a
: an erect South American herb widely cultivated for its thick starchy edible underground tubers
b
: one of these edible tubers

called also Irish potato, spud, white potato

More from Merriam-Webster on potato

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about potato

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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