potato

noun

po·​ta·​to pə-ˈtā-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce potato (audio)
-tə
dialectal pə-ˈdā-, 
bə- How to pronounce potato (audio)
plural potatoes
often attributive
1
: sweet potato
2
a
: an erect South American herb (Solanum tuberosum) of the nightshade family widely cultivated for its edible starchy tuber
b
: the tuber of a potato

called also Irish potato, spud, white potato

Illustration of potato

Illustration of potato
  • potato 2a

Examples of potato in a Sentence

She's growing carrots and potatoes in her garden this year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The full platter arrives back at your seat within minutes, with mixed and pickled veggies, potatoes, rice, roti, and papadums. — Shindy Chen, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026 The Stop Sale party continued with cooked potatoes that, within two hours after cooking, needed to be cooled to 70 degrees. — David J. Neal july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 Breakfast usually consists of three eggs, 175 grams of rice or potatoes, organic chicken sausage, maybe some fruit and toast, along with supplements. — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 31 July 2026 The potatoes melt into a center of coarse ground beef, deeply savory with a subtle sweetness, and complex with the grassy, herbal brightness of culantro. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for potato

Word History

Etymology

Spanish batata, from Taino

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of potato was in 1565

Phrases Containing potato

Rhymes for potato

See All Rhymes for potato

Browse Nearby Words

potation
potato
potato alcohol
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Potato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potato. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

potato

noun
po·​ta·​to pə-ˈtāt-ō How to pronounce potato (audio) pət-ˈāt- How to pronounce potato (audio)
plural potatoes
1
: sweet potato sense 1
2
a
: an erect South American herb widely cultivated for its thick starchy edible underground tubers
b
: one of these edible tubers

called also Irish potato, spud, white potato

More from Merriam-Webster on potato

Nglish: Translation of potato for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about potato

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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