fava bean

noun

fa·​va bean ˈfä-və- How to pronounce fava bean (audio)
: the large, flat, edible, starchy seed of an Old World upright vetch (Vicia faba) that is typically pale green to whitish in color and is eaten raw, blanched, or cooked
also : this plant widely grown for its seeds and as fodder

called also broad bean, horse bean

see favism

Examples of fava bean 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.
For many Denver coffee fans, the idea of eating fava beans with their morning brew may sound a little strange. — Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 13 May 2026 There are fava beans drying in the sun, and piles of colorful tubers waiting for someone to collect them. — Paola Miglio, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026 Salmon with ponzu sauce, mango, fava beans, avocado, sesame seeds, chilli mayo, spring onion and white rice is the fuel for the afternoon. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 29 June 2026 The cars were reportedly used as impromptu food trucks, with piles of courgettes, tomatoes, cherries, and fava beans on top of them. — Rebecca Cope, Vogue, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fava bean

Word History

Etymology

Italian fava "fava bean," going back to Latin faba, going back to dialectal Indo-European *bhab(h)- (whence also Serbian & Croatian bȍb, bòba "bean," Polish bób, Russian bob all going back to Slavic *bobŭ), probably borrowed from a European substratal language

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fava bean was in 1893

Rhymes for fava bean

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Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Fava bean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fava%20bean. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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