peanut
5 synonyms for peanut, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The edible seed of Arachis hypogaea, a legume that grows its pods underground, despite being called a nut.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use peanut
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
peanut butter
roasted peanuts
peanut allergy
Etymology
A compound of pea + nut, likely reshaping an earlier word (pinda) borrowed via West African languages.
Full origin of peanut →Frequently asked questions
What does “peanut” mean?
The word “peanut” means the edible seed of Arachis hypogaea, a legume that grows its pods underground, despite being called a nut. In plain terms, a small legume seed eaten as a snack or ground into peanut butter — botanically a legume, not a true nut.
How do you pronounce “peanut”?
“Peanut” is pronounced PEE-nuht (/ˈpiˌnʌt/ in IPA).
How do you use “peanut” in a sentence?
Here is “peanut” used in a sentence: “He spread peanut butter thickly on the toast.”
What part of speech is “peanut”?
“Peanut” is a noun.
Is “peanut” a common word?
“Peanut” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
Is a peanut a nut or a legume?
Botanically a peanut is a legume, not a true nut, because it grows in pods underground and belongs to the same family as beans and peas. It is called a 'nut' mainly because of its hard shell and its nut-like taste and use.
Why is a peanut also called a groundnut?
The name 'groundnut' comes from the way the plant ripens its pods below the soil, since Arachis hypogaea buries its seeds as they grow. 'Groundnut' is common in British and African English, while 'peanut' is more usual in American English.
What is the difference between a peanut and a tree nut?
A peanut grows underground and is a legume, whereas tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and cashews grow on trees. This distinction matters for allergies, because a peanut allergy and a tree-nut allergy are treated as separate conditions.
