acai

noun

ˌä-ˌsä-ˈē

-sī-ˈē

variants or less commonly açai

or acai berry or less commonly açai berry : a small, dark purple, berrylike fruit with a juicy pulp that is often used in beverages or eaten raw and that is produced by a tall, slender palm (Euterpe oleracea) native to tropical rainforests of Central and South America

Note: Acai is a single-seeded drupe that grows in large clusters. In the Brazilian Amazon [Rainforest], acai makes up an important part of the local diet and is often prepared as a mash with cassava pulp.

or acai palm or less commonly açai palm : the palm (Euterpe oleracea) that produces acai berries

: a beverage made from the juice of the acai berry

Rio de Janeiro is the city that worships health and beauty and where the healthy and the beautiful drink acai.—

Alex Bellosz

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web These mineral sun filters are paired with a blend of antioxidants (blueberry, acai, and green tea extracts) to reverse and prevent damage caused by sun exposure, as well as environmental stressors like pollution. —

Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2023 Nekter Juice Bar Nekter Juice Bar serves handcrafted acai bowls, smoothies, fresh juices and cleanses. —

Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 15 June 2023 These hard seltzers, made with real fruit, switches things up with options like pomegranate and acai, blueberries and lemon, and mango and passionfruit. —

Lauren Hubbard, townandcountrymag.com, 9 June 2023 Rush Bowls offers a wide variety of acai bowls and smoothies, and even a pup bowl for your furry friends. —

Claire Rafford, The Indianapolis Star, 2 June 2023 Full Monty Brightening Body Oil with Squalane + Vitamin C 3.7 oz / 110 mL $65 at Sephora Another big hit from the brand: The Fully Monty, an antioxidant-rich body oil with vitamin C to brighten and squalane and acai oil to silk-ify skin. —

Brian Underwood, Women's Health, 16 May 2023 Play Lip Balm, which is formulated with broad spectrum SPF 30, shea butter, and acai. —

Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 9 May 2023 Expect acai bowls topped with granola and fruit (or build your own) and fruit smoothies. —

Elena Kadvany, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 May 2023 Enjoy refreshing mimosas, delectable chicken wings, refreshing acai bowls and a stress-reducing couples massage to keep you active and energized. —

Brian May Maestro, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'acai.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Brazilian Portuguese assaí, uaçaí, açaí, the palm Euterpe oleracea, borrowed from Tupi *ɨβasaí, from ɨβá "plant, fruit" + an element of uncertain meaning

First Known Use

circa 1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler

The first known use of acai was circa 1861

See more words from the same year