blackberry

¹ American  

[blak-ber-ee, -buh-ree] / ˈblækˌbɛr i, -bə ri /

noun

plural

blackberries

1. the fruit, black or very dark purple when ripe, of certain species of the genus Rubus.

2. the plant itself.

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BlackBerry ² American  

[blak-ber-ee, -buh-ree] / ˈblækˌbɛr i, -bə ri /

Trademark.

1. a brand of smartphone optimized for wireless email.

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blackberry ¹ British  

/ ˈblækbərɪ /

noun

1. Also called: bramble.  any of several woody plants of the rosaceous genus Rubus , esp R. fruticosus , that have thorny stems and black or purple glossy edible berry-like fruits (drupelets)

2. 1. the fruit of any of these plants

   2. ( as modifier )

      blackberry jam

3. an ornamental Chinese iridaceous plant, Belamcanda chinensis , that has red-spotted orange flowers and clusters of black seeds that resemble blackberries

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verb

1. (intr) to gather blackberries

BlackBerry ² British  

noun

1. a hand-held device for sending and receiving e-mail

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Other Word Forms

• blackberrylike adjective

Etymology

Origin of blackberry

before 1000; Middle English blakeberie, Old English blaceberie. See black, berry

Example Sentences

Generous hunks of vanilla bean dot her lemon marmalade; bay leaf infuses her blackberry jam.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025

Its core is all plush red and dark fruit, and aromas of blackberry and spice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

There we saw it, the blue of the lake shimmering through the pines and wild blackberry bushes.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2025

It feels peaceful, apart from the air raids, with gardens full of poultry, blackberry bushes and fruit trees.

From BBC • Sep. 16, 2025

“Yes! That one is so thrilling! When they’re hiding in the blackberry brambles, and you think she’s going to turn him in but she doesn’t!”

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland