tangerine

American  

[tan-juh-reen, tan-juh-reen] / ˌtæn dʒəˈrin, ˈtæn dʒəˌrin /

noun

• tangerines
  plural

1. Also called mandarin, mandarin orange. any of several varieties of mandarin, cultivated widely, especially in the U.S.

2. deep orange; reddish orange.

---

adjective

1. of the color tangerine; reddish-orange.

tangerine ¹ British  

/ ˌtændʒəˈriːn /

noun

1. a native of inhabitant of Tangier

---

adjective

1. of or relating to Tangier or its inhabitants

tangerine ² British  

/ ˌtændʒəˈriːn /

noun

1. an Asian citrus tree, Citrus reticulata, cultivated for its small edible orange-like fruits

2. the fruit of this tree, having a loose rind and sweet spicy flesh

3. 1. a reddish-orange colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a tangerine door

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tangerines
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tangerine

Tang(i)er + -ine ¹

Compare meaning

How does tangerine compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• tangelo vs. tangerine

Explanation

A tangerine is a kind of citrus tree, and it's also the name of the fruit the tree produces. Tangerines are like little oranges. Delicious! Some people prefer tangerines to oranges, because they're small, they have thin, loose skin that's easy to peel, and they are often sweeter than oranges. In the 1840s, tangerines were called tangerine oranges, or "oranges from Tangier" by the British. They were originally imported from Tangier, Morocco, and are a variety of mandarin orange.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tangerine tangerines

There are also around 16 fruit trees on the property—including orange, tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, and lime trees—as well as a brick-enclosed vegetable garden.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

Whether your preference is melon, tangerine, ginger or coral - orange appears to be the big colour trend for next year.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

This ageworthy bottling delivers big acidity, with notes of lime zest, white blossom, tangerine and grilled lemon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

Jelly bean flavors include green apple, blue raspberry, lemon, tangerine, and cranberry — “which each deliver just enough fruity sweetness to accentuate their accompanying jolt of sour,” per TJ’s.

From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2025

“Somebody else could do basic research on what a tangerine is and how it is grown. We thought that you and your friend could handle that.”

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor

Farmers grow passion fruit, pomegranates and tangerines, and islanders relish a fiery shochu liquor made with brown sugar.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

Or, if you’ve ever been to Ojai, you’ll know the sweet, citrusy scent of Pixie tangerines that lingers in the air.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2024

Some described smelling tangerines, chlorine or cleaning agents.

From Washington Times ● Mar. 5, 2023

Companies that specialize in mail order abound; but since some conventional citrus is a pesticide-heavy, especially tangerines and grapefruits, check out growers that specialize in certified organic, like Frog Hollow Farm.

From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2023

All of us in my family look like tangerines next to oranges.

From "A Step from Heaven" by An Na