raisin

American  

[rey-zin] / ˈreɪ zɪn /

noun

1. a grape of any of various sweet varieties dried in the sun or by artificial means, often used in cooking.

2. dark purplish blue.

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raisin British  

/ ˈreɪzən /

noun

1. a dried grape

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• raisiny
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of raisin

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English raisin, reisin, from Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin racīmus, for Latin racēmus; see raceme

Explanation

A raisin is a dehydrated or sun-dried grape. Raisins are sweet and chewy, and they're often found in oatmeal cookies and granola. Raisins are one of the most common kind of dried fruit — they turn up everywhere from a preschooler's snack box to a fancy bakery's scones and cinnamon rolls. The most common way to make a raisin is to dry grapes in the sun, though it's quicker for producers to use dehydrating machines. The word raisin dates to the thirteenth century, from the Latin racemus, which means "cluster of grapes or berries."

Example Sentences

After watching his mother perform in a production of “A Raisin in the Sun” at Compton Community College when he was 9 years old, Anthony Anderson knew appearing on stage would be his life’s work.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

At 94, "Star Trek" legend William Shatner chews the scenery in a Raisin Bran ad that leans into fiber jokes, introducing himself as a character named "Will Shat."

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

This past week, Kellogg even announced that it’s splurging on a Super Bowl ad for Raisin Bran.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 10, 2026

Raisin rolls with beef and cheddar are a Dutch thing, she told me, along with a flaky pastry called Dutch letters, which she also served.

From Slate • Oct. 22, 2025

Someone he’d met years ago during one of his auditions was staging a production of A Raisin in Sun.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon