lentil

noun

len·​til ˈlen-tᵊl How to pronounce lentil (audio)
1
: a widely cultivated Eurasian annual leguminous plant (Vicia lens synonym Lens culinaris) with flattened edible seeds and leafy stalks used as fodder
2
: the seed of the lentil

Examples of lentil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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While social media was, and continues to be, a hotbed of culture-war goofiness, people yelling about lentils in the comments section of Jezebel hardly accounts for the rise of RFK Jr. Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026 Habesha Springy injera bread comes loaded with lentils, greens, doro wat and more at this Ethiopian restaurant. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026 Good options are vegetables, berries, oats, bananas, beans, and lentils. Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 9 Feb. 2026 About the size and shape of a lentil, they are produced in mass quantities and sent to manufacturers in trucks, shipping containers and railroad freight cars. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lentil

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French lentille, from Latin lenticula, diminutive of lent-, lens

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lentil was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lentil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lentil. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

lentil

noun
len·​til ˈlent-ᵊl How to pronounce lentil (audio)
: a Eurasian plant of the legume family widely grown for its flattened edible seeds and leafy stalks used as food for cattle
also : its seed

More from Merriam-Webster on lentil

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