cranberry

American  

[kran-ber-ee, -buh-ree] / ˈkrænˌbɛr i, -bə ri /

noun

plural

cranberries

1. the red, acid fruit or berry of certain plants of the genus Vaccinium, of the heath family, as V. macrocarpon large cranberry, or American cranberry or V. oxycoccus small cranberry, or European cranberry, used in making sauce, relish, jelly, or juice.

2. the plant itself, growing wild in bogs or cultivated in acid soils, especially in the northeastern U.S.

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cranberry British  

/ -brɪ, ˈkrænbərɪ /

noun

1. any of several trailing ericaceous shrubs of the genus Vaccinium, such as the European V. oxycoccus, that bear sour edible red berries

2. the berry of this plant, used to make sauce or jelly

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Etymology

Origin of cranberry

An Americanism dating back to 1640–50; from Low German kraanbere; crane, berry

Compare meaning

How does cranberry compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• lingonberry vs. cranberry

Example Sentences

To attract increasingly discerning consumers, Kroger has offered a precooked holiday meal for eight of turkey or ham, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry and gravy for about $11 a person.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2025

She said festive items were required this year, such as Christmas cake, cranberry sauce, gravy, and chocolate coins for stockings, as well as essentials such as toilet roll, toothbrushes and deodorant.

From BBC • Dec. 1, 2025

Founder and CEO Caitlin Braam deems the Negroni-ish Cashmere, a cranberry cider with dark cherry and bitter orange peel, a particularly good fit for the holidays: “It evokes this warm wintry feeling and vibe.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

The meal includes a frozen turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, gravy, bread, and frozen corn.

From Barron's • Nov. 11, 2025

There were cold omelettes with chopped ham in them, and cold chicken and hot coffee for the grown-ups, and hot crisp rolls baked in the hotel kitchen, which we ate with butter and cranberry jam.

From "Boy: Tales of a Childhood" by Roald Dahl