breadfruit

American  

[bred-froot] / ˈbrɛdˌfrut /

noun

1. a large, round, starchy fruit borne by a tree, Artocarpus altilis, of the mulberry family, native to the Pacific islands, used, baked or roasted, for food.

2. the tree bearing this fruit.

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breadfruit British  

/ ˈbrɛdˌfruːt /

noun

1. a moraceous tree, Artocarpus communis (or A. altilis ), of the Pacific Islands, having large round edible starchy usually seedless, fruit

2. the fruit of this tree, which is eaten baked or roasted and has a texture like bread

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Etymology

Origin of breadfruit

First recorded in 1690–1700; bread + fruit

Example Sentences

The air above Palau's pristine waters smells of salt and breadfruit, and on calm mornings in Koror, Palau's commercial centre, the whirr of dive boat engines echoes across the bay.

From BBC • Nov. 23, 2025

Nearshore fishing was good, but there were no breadfruit trees, no church, no school, and only one plywood structure to shield older islanders from the elements.

From Slate • Jul. 22, 2025

In 1778, British explorer Capt. James Cook was welcomed when he anchored off the Hawaiian islands by locals eager to trade cuttlefish, breadfruit and pigs for nails and iron tools.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 19, 2023

Pellegrino, who calls himself an outsider because he’s not from Lahaina, says reintegrating breadfruit and restoring wetlands, canals and streams could bring a new future for the town.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 18, 2023

Each was nearly the size of an infant bonobo, and a few breadfruit were enough of a meal for the whole group.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer