Parthenocarpic
/ˌpɑːrθənoʊˈkɑːrpɪk/noun
Producing fruit without fertilization, so the fruit is seedless or nearly seedless.
Did you know?Parthenocarpic fruit can develop without pollination, which is why some bananas, grapes, and cucumbers can be naturally seedless—biology, not magic, even if the name feels enchanted.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GRK
parthénos
“virgin, maiden”
Ancient Greek
GRK
karpós
“fruit, produce”
Modern scientific Greek
GRK
parthenokarpikos
“pertaining to fruit developing without fertilization”
Late 19th Century
English
parthenocarpic
“of fruit, developing without fertilization”
Modern English
English
parthenocarpic
“producing fruit without fertilization, so the fruit is seedless or nearly seedless”
Explore more surprising origins