spinach

noun

spin·​ach ˈspi-nich How to pronounce spinach (audio)
1
: an Asian herb (Spinacia oleracea) of the amaranth family cultivated for its edible leaves which form in a dense basal rosette
also : its leaves
2
a
: something unwanted, pretentious, or spurious
b
: an untidy overgrowth
spinachlike
ˈspi-nich-ˌlīk How to pronounce spinach (audio)
adjective
spinachy
ˈspi-ni-chē How to pronounce spinach (audio)
adjective

Examples of spinach 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.
Thursday’s harvest was the second time the group donated to the Food Bank; members previously had donated spinach and cilantro and expect to have some more produce to provide in September. — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 2 Sep. 2026 Carrots, beets, lettuces, spinach, turnips and chard can all be good fits outdoors. — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Prior to donating, the Red Cross advises donors to get a good night’s rest, eat a full meal of iron-rich foods like eggs, meat and spinach, and hydrate with 16 ounces of extra water. — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Blend kiwi with banana, spinach, and oat milk for a sweet green smoothie. — Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spinach

Word History

Etymology

Middle English spinache, from Anglo-French, alteration of Old French espinaces, from Medieval Latin spinachium, ultimately from Arabic isfānākh, from Pers

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spinach was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

spinaceous
spinach
spinach aphid
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spinach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spinach. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

spinach

noun
spin·​ach ˈspin-ich How to pronounce spinach (audio)
: a widely grown plant with dark green leaves that are used as food
also : the leaves

More from Merriam-Webster on spinach

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spinach

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