breadfruit

noun

bread·​fruit ˈbred-ˌfrüt How to pronounce breadfruit (audio)
plural breadfruits also breadfruit
: a round starchy usually seedless fruit that resembles bread in color and texture when baked
also : a tall tropical evergreen tree (Artocarpus altilis) of the mulberry family that bears this fruit see also mexican breadfruit

Illustration of breadfruit

Illustration of breadfruit

Examples of breadfruit 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.
The breadfruit tree proved its adaptability, thriving on both. — Elaine Savory, JSTOR Daily, 24 Jan. 2025 Many hundreds of years ago, Hawaiians planted breadfruit, and the trees captured the spring water that flowed from the uplands, keeping the soil moist. — Julie Orringer, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2026 Every villa has a private pool and is surrounded by fruit trees — lime, breadfruit, avocado, cocoa and cherry trees. — Sandra Guzmán, USA Today, 18 June 2026 Visitors help the staff dig and build a traditional imu underground with volcanic rocks, banana stumps, ti leaves and burlap sacks, and then fill the pit with mea ʻai staples like kālua pork, chicken, taro, yams and breadfruit. — Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for breadfruit

Word History

First Known Use

1697, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of breadfruit was in 1697

Phrases Containing breadfruit

Rhymes for breadfruit

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Browse Nearby Words

bread flour
breadfruit
breadgrain
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Cite this Entry

“Breadfruit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breadfruit. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

breadfruit

noun
bread·​fruit -ˌfrüt How to pronounce breadfruit (audio)
: a round usually seedless fruit that resembles bread in color and texture when baked
also : a tall tropical tree that is related to the mulberries and bears this fruit

More from Merriam-Webster on breadfruit

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about breadfruit

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