What does seedless mean?
Seedless describes fruit that has no mature or readily visible seeds. Its best-known use is for specially bred varieties of grapes, although the term can also describe other fruits and watermelons. The distinction is mainly commercial and horticultural: seedless fruit has developed without conspicuous hard seeds, making it especially convenient to eat whole. In everyday speech, the phrase “seedless grapes” often suggests the familiar cultivated grapes sold in supermarkets, rather than any fruit whose botanical seeds happen to be tiny or undeveloped. The word combines “seed” with the suffix “-less,” which means “without,” and is now standard in both British and American English.
adjectiveHaving no seeds or containing no recognizable seeds. The term is used especially of fruit cultivated or selected so that its seeds do not develop.
- Having no seeds or no mature, recognizable seeds.
"She chose a bowl of seedless grapes for the children."
"The shop sells seedless grapes in red and green varieties."
"Seedless watermelons are generally more expensive, but their tender flesh is easy to eat."
A seedless grape still began life with a seed: growers breed plants whose seeds fail to mature, leaving only the sweet flesh.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does seedless come from?
The adjective is formed in English by combining “seed” with the productive suffix “-less,” meaning “without” or “lacking.” The root “seed” comes from Old English “sæd,” referring to a seed or the material from which plants grow. The same native root appears in words such as “seedling,” “seedbed,” and “reseed,” although modern seedless varieties result from deliberate breeding and selection rather than simple seed formation.
How seedless is actually used
The word is especially common in commercial descriptions of fruit. In general usage, it normally means that mature seeds are absent, not that a fruit could never produce seeds.
Easily confused with seedless
Seedless fruit contains no mature seeds, whereas seeded fruit contains developed seeds.
Pitless is a less common synonym for seedless, especially for fruit such as dates or peaches whose stones are called pits.