: 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 favismExamples of fava bean in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pair crackers, pita bread, or vegetables with a fava bean dip.
—
Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 30 Dec. 2025
Late summer into early fall is a good time to plant cold-tolerant veggies like kale or collards, flowers like pansies or violas, as well as cover crops such as crimson clover or fava beans.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2025
In vegetable beds, sow fava beans, peas, mustard, vetch or a mix of cover crop seeds.
—Alice Cason, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
Another famous pulse becomes another famous Greek starter: fava—which, despite the name, isn’t made from fava beans but from yellow split peas.
—Katherine Whittaker, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fava bean
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Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 30 Dec. 2025
Late summer into early fall is a good time to plant cold-tolerant veggies like kale or collards, flowers like pansies or violas, as well as cover crops such as crimson clover or fava beans.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2025
In vegetable beds, sow fava beans, peas, mustard, vetch or a mix of cover crop seeds.
—Alice Cason, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
Another famous pulse becomes another famous Greek starter: fava—which, despite the name, isn’t made from fava beans but from yellow split peas.
—Katherine Whittaker, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fava bean
Cite this Entry
“Fava bean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fava%20bean. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fava bean
noun
fa·va bean
ˈfä-və- 
Medical Definition
fava bean
noun
fa·va bean
ˈfäv-ə-
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