: a tropical American tree (Carica papaya of the family Caricaceae, the papaya family) having an oblong to globose yellow edible fruit with numerous black seeds in a central cavity
also
: its fruit
Examples of papaya in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After an eight-race drought at the top step of the podium, Verstappen has now won three out of the last four races — and, equally concerning for the papaya-colored team, beaten both McLaren drivers in all four.
—
Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2025
The Briton waited to find the right moment to pass Leclerc, who spent much of the first third of the race with the papaya car close on his tail.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
My go-to order became the Sumba Breeze smoothie, made with papaya, orange, and local honey.
—Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
Some juices don’t fare well with high heat and gelatin, so avoid using fresh pineapple, kiwi, mango or papaya juice.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for papaya
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Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2025
The Briton waited to find the right moment to pass Leclerc, who spent much of the first third of the race with the papaya car close on his tail.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
My go-to order became the Sumba Breeze smoothie, made with papaya, orange, and local honey.
—Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
Some juices don’t fare well with high heat and gelatin, so avoid using fresh pineapple, kiwi, mango or papaya juice.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for papaya
Cite this Entry
“Papaya.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/papaya. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
papaya
noun
pa·pa·ya
pə-ˈpī-ə 
: an oblong edible yellow fruit with many black seeds that grows on a tropical American tree with large leaves
also
: the tree
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