What does "cranberry" mean?
A shrub belonging to the section Vaccinium sect. Oxycoccus of the genus Vaccinium.
Cranberry
/ˈkɹæn.bɛr.i/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A shrub belonging to the section Vaccinium sect. Oxycoccus of the genus Vaccinium.
- Grammar: cranberry is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: berry, cranberries, cranberry berry, cranberry fruit.
- Useful contrasts: bland, colorless, green.
- Usage evidence: There is cranberry juice in the fridge.
How to use "cranberry"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cranberry" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "cranberry" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cranberry" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "cranberry" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cranberry" is acting as adj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "berry" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "cranberry", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A shrub belonging to the section Vaccinium sect. Oxycoccus of the genus Vaccinium. countable
- 2 very tart red berry used for sauce or juice wordnet
- 3 The edible red berry of that shrub. countable
"That concertina was a wonder in its way. The handles that was on it first was wore out long ago, and he'd made new ones of braided rope yarn. And the bellows was patched in more places than a cranberry picker's overalls."
- 4 any of numerous shrubs of genus Vaccinium bearing cranberries wordnet
- 5 An intense red colour, like that of a cranberry. countable, uncountable
Adjective
- 1 Of the intense red colour of a cranberry. not-comparable
"Leon was in his most resplendent, gaudiest, Day-Glo getup, including a purple felt fez with multiple hangy-downs and a cranberry vestment with gold collar, appliquéd with every religious symbol known to man […]"
Proper Noun
- 1 A community and neighbourhood in the city of Powell River, British Columbia, Canada.
- 2 An unincorporated community in Hazle Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States.
- 3 A township and unincorporated community therein, in Venango County, Pennsylvania.
- 4 A number of other townships in the United States, listed under Cranberry Township.
- 5 A hamlet in Standon parish, Stafford borough, Staffordshire, England (OS grid ref SJ8236).
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"There is cranberry juice in the fridge."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cranberry"?
Common synonyms include: berry, cranberries, cranberry berry, cranberry fruit, cranberry plant, cranberry shrub.
How do you use "cranberry" in a sentence?
There is cranberry juice in the fridge.
How do you pronounce "cranberry"?
Pronounced /ˈkɹæn.bɛr.i/.
Etymology
Adapted in the 1640s from Dutch Low Saxon or German Low German Kraanbeere, from Kraan m (which means and is cognate to crane) + Beere f (which means and is cognate to berry). Via PIE cognate with Polish żurawina, Russian журави́ка (žuravíka) (akin to жура́вль (žurávlʹ, “crane”)); Latvian dzērvene < dzērve (“crane”).