pomegranate

American  

[pom-gran-it, pom-i-, puhm-] / ˈpɒmˌgræn ɪt, ˈpɒm ɪ-, ˈpʌm- /

noun

• pomegranates
  plural

1. a chambered, many-seeded, globose fruit, having a tough, usually red rind and surmounted by a crown of calyx lobes, the edible portion consisting of pleasantly acid flesh developed from the outer seed coat.

2. the shrub or small tree, Punica granatum, that bears it, native to southwestern Asia but widely cultivated in warm regions.

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pomegranate British  

/ ˈpɒmˌɡrænɪt, ˈpɒmɪˌɡrænɪt /

noun

1. an Asian shrub or small tree, Punica granatum, cultivated in semitropical regions for its edible fruit: family Punicaceae

2. the many-chambered globular fruit of this tree, which has tough reddish rind, juicy red pulp, and many seeds

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• pomegranates
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pomegranate

1275–1325; Middle English poumgarnet, pomegarnade (< Old French pome grenate, pome gernete ), representing Medieval Latin pōmum grānātum literally, seedy apple. See pome, grenade

Explanation

A pomegranate is a large, red-skinned fruit with delicious, juicy seeds. Eating a pomegranate can be messy. You can probably find a pomegranate at a large grocery store in the produce section. It won't look very enticing, with its rough, leathery peel, but once you cut it open and pop out the ruby red seeds, you'll understand why it's many people's favorite fruit. The Latin root of pomegranate is pomum granatum, literally "apple with many seeds." Pome means "apple," and granatum comes from the Latin word for "seed or grain," granum.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pomegranate pomegranates

Xi himself has often urged ethnic minorities to integrate more, telling them to "hug tightly like pomegranate seeds" to create a stronger China.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

They slurped the cafe’s signature lavashak smoothie — a tart mixture including peaches, various berries and pomegranate molasses — and munched on slow-cooked lamb over nachos with melty Armenian string cheese.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026

Options already exist for fixing dyes without lead, including natural mordants derived from plants rich in tannins, such as oak bark, pomegranate peel and rosemary, as well as alum, which is considered environmentally safe.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 2, 2026

When people asked for flavors like pomegranate or passion fruit, Swig gave it a shot, and customers stayed loyal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026

And he made her eat a pomegranate seed, knowing in his heart that if she did so she must return to him.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

His team investigated urolithin A, or UroA, a naturally occurring microbial metabolite produced by gut bacteria after the digestion of foods including pomegranates, walnuts and berries.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026

There are pomegranates, guavas, dragon fruit and nectarines.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

Shafts of wheat, different varieties of grapes, and colorful baskets of figs, pomegranates and other fruit sit atop spires and other structures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026

There were peaches, pomegranates, even a couple of bright-pink dragon fruits.

From Slate ● Jan. 27, 2026

The Garcias bite Into the pomegranates, And their mouths Fill with the shattered Sw eetness.

From "Neighborhood Odes" by Gary Soto

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