What does grapefruit mean?
Grapefruit is the common name for a large citrus fruit with tart, juicy flesh that may be yellow, pink, or deep red. It is eaten fresh, squeezed for juice, used in marmalades and salads, and combined with other ingredients in cocktails and sparkling drinks. The word can also denote the evergreen tree that bears the fruit, though this use is less frequent in everyday speech. Grapefruit is valued for its pronounced acidity and refreshing, slightly bitter or sweet flavor. It belongs to the citrus family and is closely related to oranges and pomelos; it is not a grape or a berry. The name reflects the fruit’s historical association with grape-like clusters and has been established in English since the nineteenth century. In British and American English, grapefruit is a familiar, neutral food term and is used in both formal writing and everyday conversation.
nounA large, tart citrus fruit with thick yellow, pink, or red flesh and usually a few seeds. The word can also refer to the evergreen tree that produces the fruit.
- The large, acidic citrus fruit of the grapefruit tree, typically yellow, pink, or red inside.
- The evergreen citrus tree that bears grapefruit fruit.
"She served grapefruit halves with mint and a light breakfast."
"The recipe calls for two grapefruits and a handful of fresh mint leaves."
"Grapefruit is often included in drinks intended to be fresh and tart rather than especially sweet."
Use the plural when referring to multiple individual fruits or trees.
"The recipe requires four grapefruits."
Grapefruit is a citrus hybrid whose name simply joins “grape” and “fruit,” a reminder that even familiar fruit names can conceal surprising botanical histories.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does grapefruit come from?
Grapefruit entered English in the late nineteenth century as a compound of “grape” and “fruit,” probably referring to the way the fruits grew in clusters. The compound was subsequently shortened to the modern form “grapefruit.” Its components connect it to the longer word families of “grape” and “fruit,” rather than to a separate ancient root.
Related word forms
How grapefruit is actually used
The term is standard in both British and American English. As a food word it can be countable, as in “a grapefruit,” or used as a mass noun to refer to the fruit generally, as in “a bowl of grapefruit.”
Easily confused with grapefruit
A pomelo is a separate citrus fruit, typically larger and less sweet, whereas grapefruit is the smaller, more acidic citrus hybrid commonly known in North America and Europe.