English · Word Candidate

vanilla

/vəˈnɪl.ə/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: vanillas

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Any tropical climbing orchid of the genus Vanilla (especially Vanilla planifolia), bearing podlike fruit yielding an extract used in flavoring food or in perfumes.

Noun

Examples

Vanilla itself was transplanted from Madagascar, the main source of the spice, to Polynesia a century ago.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

The fruit or bean of the vanilla plant.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Of vanilla.

Adjective

Examples

A mass of folders and binders. One, vanilla in colour, catches her eye.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

Standard, plain, default, unmodified, basic.

AdjectiveRegister: colloquial

Examples

vanilla JavaScript

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “vanilla” mean?

Any tropical climbing orchid of the genus Vanilla (especially Vanilla planifolia), bearing podlike fruit yielding an extract used in flavoring food or in perfumes.

Is “vanilla” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.