grapefruit

American  

[greyp-froot] / ˈgreɪpˌfrut /

noun

1. a large, roundish, yellow-skinned, edible citrus fruit having a juicy, acid pulp.

2. the tropical or semitropical tree, Citrus paradisi, yielding this fruit.

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grapefruit British  

/ ˈɡreɪpˌfruːt /

noun

1. a tropical or subtropical cultivated evergreen rutaceous tree, Citrus paradisi

2. the large round edible fruit of this tree, which has yellow rind and juicy slightly bitter pulp

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Etymology

Origin of grapefruit

1805–15; grape + fruit, apparently from the resemblance of its clusters to those of grapes

Example Sentences

Lemon is classic; lime sharpens; grapefruit feels slightly adult; orange reads Sunday morning.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

Yonder Cider in Wenatchee, Wash., takes inspiration from cocktails to create ciders such as the Greyhound-like Sunnyslope, with pink grapefruit and lemon verbena.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

The rate is even less for picking grapefruit, which pays $8 to $10 per 500-pound crate, according to the father and the two teens.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025

Speaking of gummies, another must-try is TJ’s Fruity Gummy Candies, which include not one but five unique flavors: pineapple, mango, grapefruit, watermelon and blueberry.

From Salon • Oct. 21, 2025

Then she put it in her grapefruit box overnight, so that nothing would happen to it.

From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell