# yam

/ˈjæm/ (US) · /jˈæm/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/yam
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a large root vegetable with brown skin and white or orange flesh that grows in warm climates. It is similar to a sweet potato but usually less sweet and more starchy.

For teachers: the edible starchy tuber of various climbing plants in the genus Dioscorea, widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. Often confused with the sweet potato in North American culinary contexts.

## Examples

- We roasted a large yam for dinner.
- In many West African cultures, the yam is a staple food and is often pounded into a thick dough called fufu.
- While the botanical distinction between tubers is clear, many supermarkets mislabel orange-fleshed sweet potatoes as yams, leading to persistent confusion among consumers regarding their nutritional profiles and cooking times.

## Usage notes

- Countable when referring to the individual tuber; uncountable when referring to the food as a substance.

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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.