ENGLISH
REFERENCE

broccoli

n.
US //ˈbɹɑkəɫi// UK //bɹˈɒkəlˌi// broc·coli
  1. 1 the vegetable (n.)
    A2 Elementary Cooking

    a green vegetable with a thick stalk and many small green flowers that look like a tree.

    an edible plant (Brassica oleracea var. italica) of the cabbage family, typically consumed as a vegetable. Both countable and uncountable depending on whether referring to the plant or the food.

    Example

    I like to steam broccoli with a little bit of lemon and salt.

    Example

    The chef recommended lightly blanching the broccoli to preserve its vibrant green colour and crisp texture before adding it to the stir-fry.

  2. 2 marijuana (n.)
    C1 Advanced American English Slang Informal

    a slang word for marijuana.

    a slang euphemism for marijuana, referencing the physical resemblance of the dried flower buds to the vegetable.

    Example

    The song uses the word broccoli to talk about smoking weed.

    Example

    In modern hip-hop lyrics, the term broccoli frequently serves as a coded reference to cannabis consumption.

    Usage

    Typically used in informal speech or song lyrics to avoid more direct terms.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a very specific slang term mostly found in American pop culture; learners should be aware of it but avoid using it in any professional or neutral context.
Origin

1699, Italian broccoli, plural of broccolo (“cabbage sprout, head”), diminutive of brocco (“shoot, sprout”) (which is also the origin of brocade), from Latin broccus (“pointed, sharp, projecting; buck-toothed”), possibly of Gaulish origin, related to Proto-Celtic brokkos (“badger”) or Proto-Celtic brozdos (“tip, point”) (compare Scottish Gaelic brog (“pointed instrument, awl”), Welsh procio (“thrust, poke”), Old English brord (“point, spike”)). More at brochure, brad.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026