# papaya

/pəˈpaɪə/ (US) · /pɐpˈaɪɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/papaya
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a tropical fruit with a yellow or orange flesh and a green skin. It is known for being very sweet and soft, and it is often used in fruit salads or smoothies.

For teachers: a tropical fruit of the genus Carica, characterized by its yellow or orange flesh and green skin. It is widely cultivated for its sweet, soft pulp and is a significant source of the enzyme papain.

## Examples

- I added some fresh papaya to my morning smoothie.
- The chef sliced the ripe papaya into thin pieces to serve as a colorful topping for the grilled fish.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.