pea·nut
ˈpē-(ˌ)nət 
plural peanuts
1
: a low-branching widely cultivated annual herb (Arachis hypogaea) of the legume family with showy yellow flowers having a peduncle which elongates and bends into the soil where the ovary ripens into a pod containing one to three oily edible seeds
also
: its seed or seed-containing pod
2
: an insignificant or tiny person
3
peanuts plural
: a trifling amount
4
: a pellet made of a low-density lightweight material (such as polystyrene foam or corn starch) that is used especially as packing material
—usually plural
It's all part of the company's mission to be more sustainable. When your paint shows up at your door, you won't find it loaded with polystyrene peanuts.—
Nicole Conway
Nicole ConwayIn the 1800s the acorns were used for packing (like Styrofoam peanuts) and ships would dump them overboard and they'd wash up on shore.—Rich Eldred
Rich EldredWhenever you get plants in the mail, or other fragile things, they come packed with these foam peanuts.—Peter Hotton
Peter HottonThe bill would also ban the sale of polystyrene loose fill packaging, or packing peanuts.—Samantha Maldonado
Samantha Maldonado
: insignificant, petty
peanut politics
Examples of peanut in a Sentence
Noun
Five billion dollars is peanuts compared to what the government spends each year.
He works all day for peanuts.
Adjective
this is a peanut matter, and we're fools for wasting time on it
Recent Examples on the Web
Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
Not with sham sites that sound too good to be true or reward you with peanuts for hours of work, but with a simple skill, delivered exceptionally well, packaged in an unbeatable, concise offer, and promoted where your audience is already actively shopping for it.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Foods rich in magnesium include: Spinach Legumes Nuts, especially almonds, cashews, and peanuts
Seeds, especially pumpkin and chia seeds
Soymilk
Black beans
Edamame
Peanut butter
Several medications, such as laxatives and heartburn remedies, contain magnesium as an active ingredient.
—Ashley Wong, Health, 27 May 2025
One of my favorites at the moment is my Thai prawn meatballs with a peanut and yogurt dressing.
—Emily English, Vogue, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for peanut
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Other ballparks staples like popcorn and peanuts are $6.50 and nachos and soft pretzels are $6.75, before taxes.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
Not with sham sites that sound too good to be true or reward you with peanuts for hours of work, but with a simple skill, delivered exceptionally well, packaged in an unbeatable, concise offer, and promoted where your audience is already actively shopping for it.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Foods rich in magnesium include: Spinach Legumes Nuts, especially almonds, cashews, and peanuts
Seeds, especially pumpkin and chia seeds
Soymilk
Black beans
Edamame
Peanut butter
Several medications, such as laxatives and heartburn remedies, contain magnesium as an active ingredient.
—Ashley Wong, Health, 27 May 2025
One of my favorites at the moment is my Thai prawn meatballs with a peanut and yogurt dressing.
—Emily English, Vogue, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for peanut
Cite this Entry
“Peanut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peanut. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share