pumpkin
noun
pump·kin
ˈpəm(p)-kən 
nonstandard
ˈpəŋ-kən
often attributive
1
a
: a fruit of any of various cultivars of herbaceous plants (Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata, C. ficifolia, and C. argyrosperma) of the gourd family that is typically round and orange but may be another color or shape, that has a hard usually smooth skin with shallow longitudinal grooves, and that is grown for ornamental use or for its fibrous pale flesh used especially in baking or as feed for livestock
b
: any of several annual chiefly trailing American plants that bear pumpkins
2
: a strong orange color
Examples of pumpkin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The fan-favorite smells like fall captured in a jar, with accents of vibrant citrus and orange that are complemented with pumpkin, cozy spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and a sprinkle of vanilla.
—
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2025
Like a prize-winning State Fair pumpkin, the idea took root.
—Kathy Berdan, Twin Cities, 27 July 2025
See pumpkin art and taste pumpkin delicacies Just outside Zürich, Jucker Farm is home to Switzerland’s largest pumpkin exhibition from late September through November.
—AFAR Media, 18 July 2025
Fans have shared beverage customizations for years on social media, clueing others in on how adding a pump of some syrups and a specific topping can transform a menu offering into something special, like a pumpkin cheesecake frappuccino or a s’mores hot chocolate.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pumpkin
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Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2025
Like a prize-winning State Fair pumpkin, the idea took root.
—Kathy Berdan, Twin Cities, 27 July 2025
See pumpkin art and taste pumpkin delicacies Just outside Zürich, Jucker Farm is home to Switzerland’s largest pumpkin exhibition from late September through November.
—AFAR Media, 18 July 2025
Fans have shared beverage customizations for years on social media, clueing others in on how adding a pump of some syrups and a specific topping can transform a menu offering into something special, like a pumpkin cheesecake frappuccino or a s’mores hot chocolate.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pumpkin
Cite this Entry
“Pumpkin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pumpkin. Accessed 10 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pumpkin
noun
pump·kin
ˈpəm(p)-kən
1
: the usually round orange fruit of a vine of the gourd family widely used as food
also
: a fruit (as a crookneck squash) of a closely related vine
2
: a usually hairy prickly vine that produces pumpkins
3
: a strong orange color
Medical Definition
pumpkin
noun
pump·kin
ˈpəm(p)-kən
: the usually round orange fruit of a vine (Cucurbita pepo) of the gourd family that is widely cultivated as food and is the source of pepo
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