Illustration of lemon
- branch with fruit and flowers
1
a
: an acid fruit that is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry produced by a small thorny citrus tree (Citrus limon) and that has a rind from which an aromatic oil is extracted
b
: a tree that bears lemons
2
: something (such as an automobile) that is unsatisfactory or defective
1
: of the color lemon yellow
2
a
: containing lemon
b
: having the flavor or scent of lemon
Examples of lemon in a Sentence
Noun
The recipe calls for the juice of two lemons.
Garnish it with a slice of lemon.
Our new car is a lemon.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 15 June 2026
To scale our recipe accordingly, pour in 3 3/4 ounces each of light rum, vodka, tequila, whiskey, and gin, along with 2 1/2 ounces sorghum or cane syrup (simple syrup works too), 2 ounces lime juice, and 2 ounces lemon juice.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu, Bon Appétit, 16 June 2023
With intoxicating notes of lemon essential oil, blackcurrant bud absolute, raspberry rose Damascena essential oil, cedarwood essential oil, and musk, the eau is sweet and citrusy yet not too overpowering.
—Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 22 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for lemon
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Noun
Some other great ways to use it include thinning it with lemon juice and water for a salad dressing, drizzling it over roasted cauliflower or sweet potato, swirling it into a savory oatmeal, or using it as the base for noodle sauces.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 15 June 2026
To scale our recipe accordingly, pour in 3 3/4 ounces each of light rum, vodka, tequila, whiskey, and gin, along with 2 1/2 ounces sorghum or cane syrup (simple syrup works too), 2 ounces lime juice, and 2 ounces lemon juice.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
Adjective
Order a side of fries, which is big enough to share between two people, and top things off with a lemon Italian ice—the only flavor available.
—Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu, Bon Appétit, 16 June 2023
With intoxicating notes of lemon essential oil, blackcurrant bud absolute, raspberry rose Damascena essential oil, cedarwood essential oil, and musk, the eau is sweet and citrusy yet not too overpowering.
—Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 22 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for lemon
Cite this Entry
“Lemon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lemon. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
lemon
noun
lem·on
ˈlem-ən 
: an acid fruit that contains citric acid and vitamin C, is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry, and is produced by a small thorny tree of the genus Citrus (C. limon)
also
: this tree
lemon
adjective
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