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Definition of kidney bean
kidney bean
Plural:kidney beans
• noun
1
A large, kidney-shaped edible seed of a common bean cultivar (Phaseolus vulgaris), typically dark red or white in color, widely used in soups, stews, and chili.
Example
"She simmered the dark red kidney beans with onions, garlic, and cumin to make a hearty vegetarian chili."
2
The annual herbaceous plant (Phaseolus vulgaris) in the family Fabaceae, native to Central and South America, cultivated globally for its edible pods and kidney-shaped seeds.
Example
"The farmer planted several rows of kidney beans alongside the corn and squash in the summer garden."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for kidney bean• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kidney bean. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 1, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kidney-bean