currant

American  

[kur-uhnt, kuhr-] / ˈkɜr ənt, ˈkʌr- /

noun

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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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

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

Potato flatbread with spruce sprout pesto and pickled white currant.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

This red blend offers pipe tobacco and anise notes on the palate with shades of black currant.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 4, 2024

A bouquet by Carol Petty of white sage, coral bells, Catalina currant, sugar bush, hollyleaf cherry and fragrant pitcher sage.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2024

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

Now he watched the purple recede blotchily from Uncle Vernon’s face, making it look like badly mixed black currant ice cream.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling