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Definition of kidney bean
kidney bean
Plural:kidney beans
kidney bean Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
4
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
A variety of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), typically dark red and named for its visual resemblance to a human kidney, widely used worldwide in dishes such as chili, stews, and salads.
Example
"She added a drained can of kidney beans to the chili con carne for extra texture and protein."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for kidney beanWord Origin & Etymology
Named in the 1500s due to the bean's shape and reddish-brown color, which closely resemble a mammalian kidney.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kidney bean. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kidney bean