broccoli

American  

[brok-uh-lee, brok-lee] / ˈbrɒk ə li, ˈbrɒk li /

noun

1. a form of a cultivated cruciferous plant, Brassica oleracea botrytis, whose leafy stalks and clusters of usually green buds are eaten as a vegetable.

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broccoli British  

/ ˈbrɒkəlɪ /

noun

1. a cultivated variety of cabbage, Brassica oleracea italica , having branched greenish flower heads

2. the flower head of this plant, eaten as a vegetable before the buds have opened

3. a variety of this plant that does not form a head, whose stalks are eaten as a vegetable

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Usage

What else does broccoli mean? Content warning: this article references illicit drugs.When not referring to the actual vegetable, broccoli is slang for "marijuana."

Etymology

Origin of broccoli

1690–1700; < Italian, plural of broccolo, equivalent to brocc ( o ) sprout (< Late Latin; broach ) + -olo diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

On one side were the vegetables and herbs: tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, mini broccoli, chives, parsley, tarragon and chervil.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Foods rich in soluble fiber include many fruits and vegetables, such as apples, avocados, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.

From Science Daily • Mar. 8, 2026

Even those who swear by the broccoli concoction say they can’t be sure that they are benefiting from anything other than a placebo effect.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

"I'd want to know that if we planted 100 bed feet of broccoli, what did we actually produce?" she says.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2026

I did not finish my creamed corn, broccoli, Rice Krispies, or peanut butter sandwiches.

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan

Related Words

• sauerkraut