currant

noun

cur·​rant ˈkər-ənt 

ˈkə-rənt

1

: a small seedless raisin originally grown chiefly in the eastern Mediterranean

2

: the acid edible fruit of various shrubs (genus Ribes) placed in either the saxifrage or gooseberry family

also : a plant bearing currants

Examples of currant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This version has appealing currant, raspberry and rhubarb flavors along with a delicate note of brown spice (cumin). —Tom Hyland, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024

Miraval is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah and Rolle, and brings out the red and black fruits of those varieties: strawberry, currants, raspberry, forest berries, along with some fleshy peach. —Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024

So, make some space in your yard for strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, currants, or raspberries. —Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2024

Advertisement This reach along the sacred waterway, with its oak and redwood forests and rocky outcroppings, was where the Shasta had harvested elderberries and currants, hunted for deer and used wild pumpkin root to lure salmon into their nets. —Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from earlier corawnce, currantes, ellipsis from Middle English reysouns of corans, borrowed from Anglo-French raisins de Curance "raisins of Corinth," from Corinth, Greece

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing currant

• black currant
• red currant

Kids Definition

currant

noun

cur·​rant ˈkər-ənt 

ˈkə-rənt

1

: a small seedless raisin used in baking and cooking

2

: the acid edible fruit of several shrubs related to the gooseberries

also : a plant bearing currants

Etymology

from Middle English raison of Coraunte, literally, "raisin of Corinth," from Corinth, city in Greece from which it was exported