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

Example Sentences

Same with the eight jugs of red currant wine in Susan’s tale that become eight cases of mezcal in Sadie’s and eight bottles of plum brandy in Beckett’s.

From New York Times • May 20, 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

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

I put William on the carpet beside me and rewarded him with some extra crumbs and a currant.

From "The Witches" by Roald Dahl