Illustration of lemon
- branch with fruit and flowers
1
a
: an acid fruit that is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry produced by a small thorny citrus tree (Citrus limon) and that has a rind from which an aromatic oil is extracted
b
: a tree that bears lemons
2
: something (such as an automobile) that is unsatisfactory or defective
1
: of the color lemon yellow
2
a
: containing lemon
b
: having the flavor or scent of lemon
Synonyms
Examples of lemon in a Sentence
Noun
The recipe calls for the juice of two lemons.
Garnish it with a slice of lemon.
Our new car is a lemon.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sherri Gordon, Health, 2 Feb. 2025
The house was untouched by the fire, though lemon and fig trees were damaged.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu, Bon Appétit, 16 June 2023
With intoxicating notes of lemon essential oil, blackcurrant bud absolute, raspberry rose Damascena essential oil, cedarwood essential oil, and musk, the eau is sweet and citrusy yet not too overpowering.
—Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 22 Nov. 2022
See all Example Sentences for lemon 
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Noun
Pineapple, Mango, or Lemon Some people use the peel of fruits like pineapple, mango, or lemon as a light scrub to help whiten teeth.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 2 Feb. 2025
The house was untouched by the fire, though lemon and fig trees were damaged.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Order a side of fries, which is big enough to share between two people, and top things off with a lemon Italian ice—the only flavor available.
—Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu, Bon Appétit, 16 June 2023
With intoxicating notes of lemon essential oil, blackcurrant bud absolute, raspberry rose Damascena essential oil, cedarwood essential oil, and musk, the eau is sweet and citrusy yet not too overpowering.
—Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 22 Nov. 2022
See all Example Sentences for lemon
Dictionary Entries Near lemon
Cite this Entry
“Lemon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lemon. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
lemon
noun
lem·on
ˈlem-ən 
: an acid fruit that contains citric acid and vitamin C, is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry, and is produced by a small thorny tree of the genus Citrus (C. limon)
also
: this tree
lemon
adjective
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