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

Potato flatbread with spruce sprout pesto and pickled white currant.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

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

Dix organized work parties to clear paths and applied for a $2,200 King Conservation District grant to landscape and replant it with native plants — bunchberry, Oregon grape, flowering currant, salal.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 5, 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

Miss Larsen smiles, handing me a slice of currant bread.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline