currant

American  

[kur-uhnt, kuhr-] / ˈkɜr ənt, ˈkʌr- /

noun

• currants
  plural

1. a small seedless raisin, of the cultivar Black Corinth, produced chiefly in Greece, and used in cooking and confectionery.

2. the small, edible, acidic, round fruit of certain wild or cultivated shrubs of the genus Ribes.

3. any of various fruit-bearing shrubs of the genus Ribes, including black currant and gooseberry.

4. any of various fruits or shrubs resembling those of the genus Ribes.

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currant British  

/ ˈkʌrənt /

noun

1. a small dried seedless grape of the Mediterranean region, used in cooking

2. any of several mainly N temperate shrubs of the genus Ribes, esp R. rubrum (redcurrant) and R. nigrum (blackcurrant): family Grossulariaceae See also gooseberry

3. the small acid fruit of any of these plants

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• currants
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of currant

First recorded in 1300–50; shortened from Middle English raysons of Coraunte “raisins of Corinth, ” the port in Greece from which they originally came

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Explanation

A currant is a small dried fruit, similar to a tiny raisin. Your favorite recipe for Irish soda bread might include grated orange rind and currants. There are two types of fruit that we call currants. The first is a small berry typically used in making jam and jelly, and the second is small variety of raisin made from grapes that are grown in Greece and California. Currants are very common in traditional British cooking, particularly in baked goods like scones and sweets like Christmas pudding. Don't confuse currant with current, which means "in the present." You might say, "Jam? My current favorite is currant!"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

currant currants

Potato flatbread with spruce sprout pesto and pickled white currant.

From Salon ● Mar. 8, 2026

She’s laid out brownies and lemon and currant loaves that she baked hours earlier.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2024

We’ve grown especially fond of snowberry, flowering currant, our two native strawberries, wood sorrel, vine maple and of course, our state flower, the Pacific rhododendron.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 29, 2023

Consider the French Kir Royale, which consists of just black currant liqueur and champagne—it's almost always served neat.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 17, 2023

“Everything. Stuffed cabbage, potato dumplings, black currant cakes, blini with lemon zest. I can’t wait to see Zoya’s face when I come walking into the Little Palace.”

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Finnriver Farm & Cidery in Chimacum, Wash., infuses its apple ciders with tart and earthy native black currants, blueberries and aronia berries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 25, 2025

It’s got avocado and chicken and bacon and currants and almonds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2025

Owen: Made from Tempranillo and Grenache grapes from Bodegas Pinuaga, this Tinto delivers juicy black currants, tar and tobacco leaf on the palate, alongside shades of coffee grounds.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 4, 2024

As Newberry Magazine later put it, "She returned from New York with apricots, almonds, rolled oats, currants, honey—And Dixie cups. Lots of Dixie cups."

From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2023

I sat on the cool wooden floor outside Mama’s bedroom, a bowl of black currants resting quietly in my lap.

From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys

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