scallion

American  

[skal-yuhn] / ˈskæl jən /

noun

scallions plural

1. any onion that does not form a large bulb; green onion.

2. a shallot.

3. a leek.

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scallion British  

/ ˈskæljən /

noun

1. Also called: green onion.  any of various onions or similar plants, such as the spring onion, that have a small bulb and long leaves and are eaten in salads

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• scallions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of scallion

1300–50; late Middle English scalyon ( e ) < Old French *escaloigne < Vulgar Latin *escalonia, variant of Latin Ascalōnia ( caepa ) onion of Ascalon, a seaport of Palestine; replacing Middle English scalone, scaloun < Anglo-French scaloun < Vulgar Latin, as above

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scallion scallions

“Any recipe that has scallion or spring onion or something like that, you can totally swap it out with ramp,” said Jaranilla.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

A scallion you keep alive in a glass of water.

From Salon ● Dec. 20, 2025

The 1-inch-high pancake is stuffed with scallion stalks interspersed with chunks of octopus.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 31, 2024

Transfer immediately to a serving bowl and sprinkle with the scallion greens.

From Washington Times ● May 12, 2023

She found him behind a row of timing belts when she brought a lunch of scallion pancakes.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

I spooned it over the hot toast and finished it with scallions, sesame seeds, black pepper and olive oil.

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026

In the past, foods including bagged salad mixes, fresh cilantro, fresh basil, raspberries, snow peas and scallions have been linked to cyclosporiasis.

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

Fold in dill, chives and scallions — not as garnish, but as punctuation.

From Salon ● Apr. 14, 2026

I’m a mac-and-cheese loyalist, and Apocalypse’s version—loaded with scallions and bacon bits—did not disappoint.

From Salon ● Feb. 2, 2026

Daddy kept a beautiful garden in her backyard, with rows of string beans, rhubarb, potatoes, onions, scallions, carrots, radishes, and beans.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson