tomatillo

noun

to·​ma·​til·​lo ˌtō-mə-ˈtē-(ˌ)yō How to pronounce tomatillo (audio) -ˈtēl-(ˌ)yō How to pronounce tomatillo (audio)
plural tomatillos
: the small round yellow, purplish, and especially pale green edible sticky fruit of a Mexican ground-cherry (Physalis philadelphica synonym P. ixocarpa)
also : the plant that bears tomatillos

Examples of tomatillo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Transfer to a platter, surround with the roasted tomatillos, and serve. — ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026 Grow tomato, pepper, eggplant and tomatillo plants in half of your bed(s) this year, then in the other half next year. — Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026 Distinctive for their citrusy flavor and papery husks, tomatillos are best started indoors four to six weeks before your last frost. — Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 15 May 2026 The tang of the sauce was eye-widening and immediate, crackling with the bright, citrusy charge of tomatillos and serrano chiles. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tomatillo

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, diminutive of tomate

First Known Use

circa 1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tomatillo was circa 1913

Rhymes for tomatillo

See All Rhymes for tomatillo

Browse Nearby Words

tomatidine
tomatillo
tomato
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tomatillo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tomatillo. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tomatillo

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tomatillo

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