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Definition of edamame
edamame
/ˌɛd.əˈmɑː.meɪ/
ed · a · ma · me
Plural:edamame
edamame Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
7
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
A Japanese dish consisting of young, immature soybeans still in the pod, typically boiled or steamed and served lightly salted as an appetizer.
Example
"We ordered a bowl of edamame to snack on while waiting for our sushi."
2
The immature green soybean itself, either within the pod or shelled, commonly used in salads, stir-fries, and health foods.
Example
"She tossed some shelled edamame into the salad to add a satisfying crunch and extra protein."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for edamame• Rhymes for edamame
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into English in the mid-20th century from the Japanese word 'edamame' (枝豆), which literally translates to 'branch bean' or 'stem bean'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Edamame. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 18, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/edamame