What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
groundnut
Example
Groundnut oil is commonly used in Indian cuisine. [groundnut: noun]
Example
The farmer grew groundnuts in his backyard garden. [groundnuts: plural noun]
peanut
Example
I love eating peanut butter on toast. [peanut: noun]
Example
The company exports peanuts to various countries around the world. [peanuts: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Peanut is more commonly used than groundnut in everyday language, especially in American English. However, groundnut is still widely used in technical or scientific contexts and in African and Asian countries.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between groundnut and peanut?
Neither groundnut nor peanut is more formal than the other, and both can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
