pith

American  

[pith] / pɪθ /

noun

1. Botany. the soft, spongy central cylinder of parenchymatous tissue in the stems of dicotyledonous plants.

2. the white, spongy part of a citrus fruit between the rind and the thin, transparent skin of individual segments.

3. Zoology. the soft inner part of a feather, a hair, etc.

4. the important or essential part; essence; core; heart.

   the pith of the matter.

5. significant weight; substance; solidity.

   an argument without pith.

6. Archaic. spinal cord or bone marrow.

7. Archaic. strength, force, or vigor; mettle.

   men of pith.

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verb (used with object)

1. to remove the pith from (plants).

2. to destroy the spinal cord or brain of.

3. to slaughter, as cattle, by severing the spinal cord.

pith British  

/ pɪθ /

noun

1. the soft fibrous tissue lining the inside of the rind in fruits such as the orange and grapefruit

2. the essential or important part, point, etc

3. weight; substance

4. Also called: medulla.  botany the central core of unspecialized cells surrounded by conducting tissue in stems

5. the soft central part of a bone, feather, etc

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verb

1. to destroy the brain and spinal cord of (a laboratory animal) by piercing or severing

2. to kill (animals) by severing the spinal cord

3. to remove the pith from (a plant)

pith Scientific  

/ pĭth /

1. The soft, spongy tissue in the center of the stems of most flowering plants, gymnosperms, and ferns. Pith is composed of parenchyma cells. In plants that undergo secondary growth, such as angiosperms, the pith is surrounded by the vascular tissues and is gradually compressed by the inward growth of the vascular tissue known as xylem. In plants with woody stems, the pith dries out and often disintegrates as the plant grows older, leaving the stem hollow.

2. See illustration at xylem

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1. To remove the pith from a plant stem.

2. To sever or destroy the spinal cord of an animal for the purpose of dissecting it, usually by inserting a needle into the spinal canal.

Etymology

Origin of pith

First recorded before before 900; Middle English pith(e), pitthe, Old English pitha; cognate with Dutch pit; pit ²

Explanation

Pith is the central idea or essence of something. If you’re in danger, you could exclaim, “I would greatly appreciate it if someone would provide assistance.” Or, you could get right to the pith of your point by shouting, “Help!” In botanical terminology, pith refers to a spongy, central cylinder of tissue found inside the stems of most flowering plants. If you know a lot about plants, that fact should help you remember the primary definition of pith. If not, just take our word for it. You can think about the pith of an argument like the pith of a plant: both lie at the heart or core of something.

Example Sentences

Among her many dancers, I spy a nurse, an astronaut, a UPS delivery guy — even a dude in a pith helmet.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2026

Mountain yam, bamboo pith and shoots, lotus seeds and gorgon fruit, which Yin says “looks like chickpeas, and tastes like tapioca,” all appear on his menu, too.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 18, 2025

This layer holds moisture, much like the pith in the center of a tree trunk.

From Scientific American • Aug. 16, 2023

The last is painted on the semi-circular pith of a banana tree and is owned by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2023

I sucked on that and spit out the pith and watched the soldier pass up and down past a freight-car outside and after a while the train gave a jerk and started.

From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway