pea·nut
ˈpē-(ˌ)nət 
plural peanuts
1
: a low-branching widely cultivated annual herb (Arachis hypogaea) of the legume family with showy yellow flowers having a peduncle which elongates and bends into the soil where the ovary ripens into a pod containing one to three oily edible seeds
also
: its seed or seed-containing pod
2
: an insignificant or tiny person
3
peanuts plural
: a trifling amount
4
: a pellet made of a low-density lightweight material (such as polystyrene foam or corn starch) that is used especially as packing material
—usually plural
It's all part of the company's mission to be more sustainable. When your paint shows up at your door, you won't find it loaded with polystyrene peanuts.—
Nicole Conway
Nicole ConwayIn the 1800s the acorns were used for packing (like Styrofoam peanuts) and ships would dump them overboard and they'd wash up on shore.—Rich Eldred
Rich EldredWhenever you get plants in the mail, or other fragile things, they come packed with these foam peanuts.—Peter Hotton
Peter HottonThe bill would also ban the sale of polystyrene loose fill packaging, or packing peanuts.—Samantha Maldonado
Samantha Maldonado
: insignificant, petty
peanut politics
Synonyms
Examples of peanut in a Sentence
Noun
Five billion dollars is peanuts compared to what the government spends each year.
He works all day for peanuts.
Adjective
this is a peanut matter, and we're fools for wasting time on it
Recent Examples on the WebAndrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
Cans of Totality Dark Roast coffee, which features notes of chocolate, peanuts and citrus, are also available online.
—The Indianapolis Star, 1 Apr. 2024
Research has found that fenugreek may cause chronic asthma in people with peanuts or chickpea allergies.18
Potential Drug Interactions
Research has found that fenugreek may interact with drugs, including:19
Blood thinners: These medicines, such as warfarin, help treat and prevent blood clots.
—Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health, 24 Mar. 2024
In a clip from Sunday's episode of American Idol, debuting exclusively with PEOPLE on Friday, Bryan, 47, gives his fellow judges a tour of his dad's peanut farm in Leesburg, Georgia.
—Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024
Menu items at Caliente Grill include hot dogs, chili dogs, nachos with cheese, chili nachos, cheeseburgers, popcorn, peanuts, cookies, sodas and water.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2024
Begin the day with rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves and peanut sesame noodles at the Palais de Chine Hotel.
—Laura Manske, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Above the Dodgers bullpen, or the visiting team’s bullpen for White Sox home games, the All-You-Can-Eat Bullpen Patio offers unlimited hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts, ballpark nachos, soft drinks and bottled water.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 19 Feb. 2024
Researchers looked at 168 patients ages 1 to 55 who were allergic to peanuts and at least two other food allergens, including milk, egg, wheat, cashew, hazelnut and walnut, according to the FDA.
—Amanda Musa, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024
Amanda Musa, CNN, 25 Feb. 2024
The donor liver itself can continue making the anti-peanut antibodies, the theory goes, causing the allergy.
—Jennifer Welsh, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2010
Using Park Lane Pantry’s newest chocolate granola, plus peanut butter, coconut flour and cocoa powder, these energy bites are a refrigerator staple.
—Dallas News, 26 May 2020
To prepare dressing, combine peanut butter, hoisin sauce, brown sugar and chili garlic paste until smooth.
—Darlene Zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, 16 May 2020
In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, honey, ginger, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1/4 cup reserved coconut mixture, and remaining ½ teaspoon chili sauce; set aside.
—Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, 30 Apr. 2020
Two of our Presidents (Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter) were peanut farmers.
—Amanda Erickson, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2018
Two of our presidents (Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter) were peanut farmers.
—Amanda Erickson, chicagotribune.com, 9 Mar. 2018
The sandwiches are not peanut butter on white bread.
—Steve Rubenstein, SFChronicle.com, 4 May 2020
Noun
Before becoming president, Jimmy Carter famously put his peanut farm into a blind trust, according to USA Today.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
Cans of Totality Dark Roast coffee, which features notes of chocolate, peanuts and citrus, are also available online.
—The Indianapolis Star, 1 Apr. 2024
Research has found that fenugreek may cause chronic asthma in people with peanuts or chickpea allergies.18
Potential Drug Interactions
Research has found that fenugreek may interact with drugs, including:19
Blood thinners: These medicines, such as warfarin, help treat and prevent blood clots.
—Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health, 24 Mar. 2024
In a clip from Sunday's episode of American Idol, debuting exclusively with PEOPLE on Friday, Bryan, 47, gives his fellow judges a tour of his dad's peanut farm in Leesburg, Georgia.
—Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024
Menu items at Caliente Grill include hot dogs, chili dogs, nachos with cheese, chili nachos, cheeseburgers, popcorn, peanuts, cookies, sodas and water.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2024
Begin the day with rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves and peanut sesame noodles at the Palais de Chine Hotel.
—Laura Manske, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Above the Dodgers bullpen, or the visiting team’s bullpen for White Sox home games, the All-You-Can-Eat Bullpen Patio offers unlimited hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts, ballpark nachos, soft drinks and bottled water.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 19 Feb. 2024
Researchers looked at 168 patients ages 1 to 55 who were allergic to peanuts and at least two other food allergens, including milk, egg, wheat, cashew, hazelnut and walnut, according to the FDA.
—Amanda Musa, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The foods used in the study were peanut, cashew, egg, milk, walnut, hazelnut and wheat, which are some of the most common allergens, Wood said.
—Amanda Musa, CNN, 25 Feb. 2024
The donor liver itself can continue making the anti-peanut antibodies, the theory goes, causing the allergy.
—Jennifer Welsh, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2010
Using Park Lane Pantry’s newest chocolate granola, plus peanut butter, coconut flour and cocoa powder, these energy bites are a refrigerator staple.
—Dallas News, 26 May 2020
To prepare dressing, combine peanut butter, hoisin sauce, brown sugar and chili garlic paste until smooth.
—Darlene Zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, 16 May 2020
In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, honey, ginger, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1/4 cup reserved coconut mixture, and remaining ½ teaspoon chili sauce; set aside.
—Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, 30 Apr. 2020
Two of our Presidents (Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter) were peanut farmers.
—Amanda Erickson, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2018
Two of our presidents (Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter) were peanut farmers.
—Amanda Erickson, chicagotribune.com, 9 Mar. 2018
The sandwiches are not peanut butter on white bread.
—Steve Rubenstein, SFChronicle.com, 4 May 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'peanut.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing peanut
Articles Related to peanut
Dictionary Entries Near peanut
Cite this Entry
“Peanut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peanut. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
peanut
noun
pea·nut
ˈpē-(ˌ)nət
1
: a plant of the legume family that has yellow flowers and is grown for its underground pods of oily nutlike edible seeds which yield peanut oil or are crushed to make peanut butter
also
: this pod or one of the oily edible seeds it contains
2
plural
: a very small amount
More from Merriam-Webster on peanut
Nglish: Translation of peanut for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of peanut for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about peanut
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