currant

American  

[kur-uhnt, kuhr-] / ˈkɜr ənt, ˈkʌr- /

noun

1. a small seedless raisin, of the cultivar Black Corinth, produced chiefly in Greece, and used in cooking and confectionery.

2. the small, edible, acidic, round fruit of certain wild or cultivated shrubs of the genus Ribes.

3. any of various fruit-bearing shrubs of the genus Ribes, including black currant and gooseberry.

4. any of various fruits or shrubs resembling those of the genus Ribes.

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currant British  

/ ˈkʌrənt /

noun

1. a small dried seedless grape of the Mediterranean region, used in cooking

2. any of several mainly N temperate shrubs of the genus Ribes, esp R. rubrum (redcurrant) and R. nigrum (blackcurrant): family Grossulariaceae See also gooseberry

3. the small acid fruit of any of these plants

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Etymology

Origin of currant

First recorded in 1300–50; shortened from Middle English raysons of Coraunte “raisins of Corinth, ” the port in Greece from which they originally came

Explanation

A currant is a small dried fruit, similar to a tiny raisin. Your favorite recipe for Irish soda bread might include grated orange rind and currants. There are two types of fruit that we call currants. The first is a small berry typically used in making jam and jelly, and the second is small variety of raisin made from grapes that are grown in Greece and California. Currants are very common in traditional British cooking, particularly in baked goods like scones and sweets like Christmas pudding. Don't confuse currant with current, which means "in the present." You might say, "Jam? My current favorite is currant!"

Example Sentences

She’s laid out brownies and lemon and currant loaves that she baked hours earlier.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2024

Consider the French Kir Royale, which consists of just black currant liqueur and champagne—it's almost always served neat.

From Scientific American • Jun. 17, 2023

“Everything will die,” said Tetyana, 64, as she walked through her fruit and vegetable garden, with young tomato plants on her left and red currant and black currant bushes on her right.

From New York Times • Jun. 11, 2023

But the others impress with their attempts, including Ali's gorgeous dark chocolate cremeaux with black currant sauce and Sara's use of fennel powder and black pepper to accent her buttermilk and strawberry-basil jelly.

From Salon • May 26, 2023

Fired with a housewifely wish to see her storeroom stocked with homemade preserves, she undertook to put up her own currant jelly.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott