1
: any of several South American shrubs (genus Erythroxylon, family Erythroxylaceae)
especially
: one (E. coca) that is the primary source of cocaine
2
: dried leaves of a coca (especially Erythroxylon coca) containing alkaloids including cocaine
Examples of coca in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the South American country is among the world's top three producers of coca bush—the plant from which coca leaves are processed to produce cocaine.
—
Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
But unlike past governments, manual eradication of coca crops under Petro’s leadership has slowed, to barely 5,048 hectares this year — far less than the 68,000 hectares uprooted in the final year of his conservative predecessor’s term and well below the government’s own goal of 30,000 hectares.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Almost all coca crops – the main ingredient of cocaine – are concentrated in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
The palate shows notes of cassis, coca nib and black cherry.
—Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coca
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Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
But unlike past governments, manual eradication of coca crops under Petro’s leadership has slowed, to barely 5,048 hectares this year — far less than the 68,000 hectares uprooted in the final year of his conservative predecessor’s term and well below the government’s own goal of 30,000 hectares.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Almost all coca crops – the main ingredient of cocaine – are concentrated in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
The palate shows notes of cassis, coca nib and black cherry.
—Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coca
Cite this Entry
“Coca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coca. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coca
noun
co·ca
ˈkō-kə 
: a South American shrub with leaves that are the source of cocaine
also
: its dried leaves
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