blackberry

¹ American  

[blak-ber-ee, -buh-ree] / ˈblækˌbɛr i, -bə ri /

noun

plural

blackberries

1. the fruit, black or very dark purple when ripe, of certain species of the genus Rubus.

2. the plant itself.

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BlackBerry ² American  

[blak-ber-ee, -buh-ree] / ˈblækˌbɛr i, -bə ri /

Trademark.

1. a brand of smartphone optimized for wireless email.

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blackberry ¹ British  

/ ˈblækbərɪ /

noun

1. Also called: bramble.  any of several woody plants of the rosaceous genus Rubus , esp R. fruticosus , that have thorny stems and black or purple glossy edible berry-like fruits (drupelets)

2. 1. the fruit of any of these plants

   2. ( as modifier )

      blackberry jam

3. an ornamental Chinese iridaceous plant, Belamcanda chinensis , that has red-spotted orange flowers and clusters of black seeds that resemble blackberries

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verb

1. (intr) to gather blackberries

BlackBerry ² British  

noun

1. a hand-held device for sending and receiving e-mail

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Other Word Forms

• blackberrylike adjective

Etymology

Origin of blackberry

before 1000; Middle English blakeberie, Old English blaceberie. See black, berry

Example Sentences

They banked almost 500,000 seeds from 19 species, including relatives of lettuce, parsnip, strawberry, radish, quinoa, blackberry, alfalfa and several species used as fodder crops for livestock.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Its core is all plush red and dark fruit, and aromas of blackberry and spice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

It feels peaceful, apart from the air raids, with gardens full of poultry, blackberry bushes and fruit trees.

From BBC • Sep. 16, 2025

In some of the areas here, we’ve got really thick native blackberry bushes.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2025

Instantly they regrouped behind the blackberry bramble and charged out again—but this time in smaller numbers: first two, then three, then two again.

From "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien