spinach

American  

[spin-ich] / ˈspɪn ɪtʃ /

noun

1. a plant, Spinacia oleracea, cultivated for its edible, crinkly or flat leaves.

2. the leaves.

---

spinach British  

/ -ɪtʃ, ˈspɪnɪdʒ /

noun

1. a chenopodiaceous annual plant, Spinacia oleracea, cultivated for its dark green edible leaves

2. the leaves of this plant, eaten as a vegetable

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• spinachlike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of spinach

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English spinache, spinage, spinarch, from Anglo-French spinache, from Old French espinache, espinage, espinoche, from Medieval Latin spinargium, spinachium, spinarchium, ultimately from Arabic isfānākh, isfināj, perhaps from Persian isfānāj, ispānāk, aspānāk

Explanation

Spinach is a leafy green edible plant. The most famous spinach eater is probably Popeye, the cartoon sailor who grows huge, strong arm muscles after eating it. There are many different ways to prepare spinach, from raw in a salad to sauteed with spices and cheese in the Indian dish saag paneer. If you don't pick a spinach plant's leaves, it sprouts white flowers and grows almost a foot tall. Spinach comes from the Old French espinache, with its Persian root, aspanakh — both also mean "spinach."

Example Sentences

I’ve seen people eat chicken chips with guacamole, Caesar salad, spinach artichoke dip, really anything you can imagine or are in the mood for.

From Salon • May 22, 2026

I’ll have a green smoothie with kale, spinach, bananas and blueberries and some collagen powder.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

An hour's drive north of New York City, the greenhouses at Cropsey Farm are seeing their first leaves of kale, spinach and arugula emerge.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

It is naturally present in foods such as orange peppers, spinach, and kale.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

We were, in fact, eating spinach from the garden for dinner, and in a few more days would have peas.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien

Related Words

• blue-green
• olive