lettuce
12 synonyms for lettuce, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A leafy green vegetable, or its leaves, commonly eaten raw in salads.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use lettuce
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a head of lettuce
lettuce leaves
iceberg lettuce
Etymology
From Old French laitues (plural of laitue), from Latin lactuca, from lac, "milk" — a reference to the milky sap in the plant's stem.
Full origin of lettuce →Frequently asked questions
What does “lettuce” mean?
The word “lettuce” means a leafy green vegetable, or its leaves, commonly eaten raw in salads. In plain terms, a common leafy salad vegetable.
How do you pronounce “lettuce”?
“Lettuce” is pronounced LEHT-ihs (/ˈlɛt.ɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “lettuce” in a sentence?
Here is “lettuce” used in a sentence: “She added a handful of lettuce to the sandwich.”
What part of speech is “lettuce”?
“Lettuce” is a noun.
Where does the word “lettuce” come from?
The word “lettuce” comes from Latin. From Old French laitues (plural of laitue), from Latin lactuca, from lac, "milk" — a reference to the milky sap in the plant's stem.
Is “lettuce” a common word?
“Lettuce” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between lettuce and cabbage?
Lettuce has soft, tender leaves and is typically eaten raw in salads, while cabbage has denser, tightly packed leaves and is often cooked as well as eaten raw. They belong to different plant families despite both being leafy vegetables.
Why is lettuce sometimes used as slang for money?
Lettuce is used informally as slang for money because of the visual resemblance between folded green banknotes and the green, leafy layers of the vegetable. This usage is casual and mainly found in slang rather than formal writing.
Is lettuce typically eaten raw or cooked?
Lettuce is most commonly eaten raw, especially in salads, since its leaves are prized for their crisp texture and mild flavour, though some varieties can also be lightly cooked or grilled.
