papaya

noun

pa·​pa·​ya pə-ˈpī-ə 

: 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

Only nine of each car will be produced, McLaren says, with a livery that looks an awful lot like their F1 car, featuring McLaren’s famous papaya and anthracite. —Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 19 Feb. 2025

Behind Norris’ four wins and Oscar Piastri’s two, the team that still carries Bruce McLaren’s name and has returned to its original papaya color scheme would take the Constructors title as the season’s most successful team. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2025

Keep your papaya outside during the warmer months to encourage fruit set and ripening, and then wheel them inside to a sunny window to protect them from winter cold. —Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2025

The team’s drivers — Lando Norris, 25, and Oscar Piastri, 23 — brought the trophy home to the papaya family on Sunday after maintaining the team’s lead ahead of Ferrari during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of the 2024 season. —Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, of American Indian origin; akin to Arawak papáia papaya

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for papaya

• messiah
• nyaya
• pariah
• rupiah
• shariah
• vinaya
• gaia
• maia
• maya
• playa
• via
• jeremiah

Kids 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

Medical Definition

papaya

noun

pa·​pa·​ya pə-ˈpī-ə 

: a tropical American tree of the genus Carica (C. papaya) with large oblong yellow edible fruit

also : its fruit which is the source of papain