noun
clementine
KLEH-muhn-tyn
Clementine (noun) means a small, sweet, easy-to-peel citrus fruit, a cross between a mandarin and a sweet orange. Example: “She packed a clementine in her son's lunchbox.”
noun
1
A small, sweet, easy-to-peel citrus fruit, a cross between a mandarin and a sweet orange.
"She packed a clementine in her son's lunchbox."
"Clementines are in season around the winter holidays."
How to use clementine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small, seedless, easy-peel citrus fruit similar to a mandarin orange.
Common mistake
Clementines, mandarins, and tangerines are closely related but not identical — clementines are usually seedless and slightly sweeter.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- clementines
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She packed a _____ in her son's lunchbox.
Etymology
Named after the French missionary Clément Rodier, who is credited with first breeding the fruit in Algeria in the early 1900s.
Class of 1900
clementine joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Synonyms
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clementine tree
Rhymes for clementine
See all rhymes for clementine →Frequently asked questions
What does “clementine” mean?
The word “clementine” means a small, sweet, easy-to-peel citrus fruit, a cross between a mandarin and a sweet orange. In plain terms, a small, seedless, easy-peel citrus fruit similar to a mandarin orange.
How do you pronounce “clementine”?
“Clementine” is pronounced KLEH-muhn-tyn (/ˈklɛməntaɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “clementine” in a sentence?
Here is “clementine” used in a sentence: “She packed a clementine in her son's lunchbox.”
What part of speech is “clementine”?
“Clementine” is a noun.
Where does the word “clementine” come from?
The word “clementine” dates back to around 1900 and comes from French. Named after the French missionary Clément Rodier, who is credited with first breeding the fruit in Algeria in the early 1900s.
