loquat

noun

lo·​quat ˈlō-ˌkwät How to pronounce loquat (audio)
: an Asian evergreen tree (Eriobotrya japonica) of the rose family often cultivated for its fruit
also : its small yellow edible fruit used especially for preserves

Illustration of loquat

Illustration of loquat

Examples of loquat 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.
There is a house nearby that has a loquat tree right by the curb of the street. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 21 Feb. 2026 The loquats are from the trees that bloom abundantly right now. — Claire Salinda, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026 The 1-acre lot includes lime, fig, and loquat trees and a lanai with ocean views. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 9 Feb. 2026 The loquat's unique flavor is a delightful combination of sweetness and slight tartness, often described as resembling a blend of peach, citrus, and mild mango. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loquat

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Guangdong) làuh-gwāt

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loquat was in 1820

Rhymes for loquat

See All Rhymes for loquat

Browse Nearby Words

loquacity
loquat
loquence
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Loquat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loquat. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

loquat

noun
lo·​quat ˈlō-ˌkwät How to pronounce loquat (audio)
: a small Asian tree related to the roses and bearing yellow fruits resembling plums
also : its fruit used especially in preserves
Etymology

Chinese làuhgwāt "small tree related to the roses"

More from Merriam-Webster on loquat

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about loquat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All