palmetto

American  

[pal-met-oh, pahl-, pah-met-oh] / pælˈmɛt oʊ, pɑl-, pɑˈmɛt oʊ /

noun

plural

palmettos, palmettoes

1. any of various palms having fan-shaped leaves, as of the genera Sabal, Serenoa, and Thrinax.

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palmetto British  

/ pælˈmɛtəʊ /

noun

1. any of several small chiefly tropical fan palms, esp any of the genus Sabal, of the southeastern US See also cabbage palmetto saw palmetto

2. any of various other fan palms such as palms of the genera Serenoa, Thrinax, and Chamaerops

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Etymology

Origin of palmetto

1555–65; earlier palmito < Spanish, diminutive of palma palm ²; -etto by association with -ette

Explanation

A palmetto is a type of palm tree. You're most likely to see palmettos in South America or the southern US states, instead of say Nebraska. A palmetto (the "cabbage palmetto, to be specific) is Florida's official state tree, and South Carolina is known as "the palmetto state." Palmettos are fan palms, with leaves in the shape of fans that are arranged in a rounded shape. The very middle of the palmetto plant is edible, and when it's harvested and sold as food, it's called "heart of palm." Palmetto comes from the Spanish palmito, "little palm tree."

Example Sentences

Coddington will join Palmetto on March 30, the Charlotte, N.C.-based energy company said Thursday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

A year earlier, Randolph was honored with the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor awarded by the governor of South Carolina.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2025

Cammi Norwood's son Mason was "jumping with joy" at the thought of starting public school next year in Palmetto, Florida.

From BBC • Sep. 14, 2025

The long hiatus between executions marks a stark departure for the Palmetto State.

From Slate • Aug. 29, 2024

The Palmetto team had two big fullbacks who couldn’t play soccer at all but who wiped out anybody who got near the goal.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor