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Definition of pigeon pea
pigeon pea
Plural:pigeon peas
• noun
1
The small, round, edible seed of the pigeon pea plant, commonly dried or cooked fresh as a staple ingredient in South Asian, Caribbean, and African cuisines.
Example
"She prepared a traditional Jamaican dish of seasoned rice and pigeon peas cooked slowly with coconut milk."
2
A perennial leguminous shrub (Cajanus cajan) native to the Old World, widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions globally for its edible seeds and soil-enhancing properties.
Example
"The agricultural cooperative distributed pigeon pea seedlings to local farmers to help improve soil fertility and crop yields."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for pigeon pea• 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 Pigeon pea. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pigeon-pea