What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
melon
Example
I love eating watermelon on a hot day. [watermelon: noun]
Example
She sliced the cantaloupe into small pieces for the fruit salad. [cantaloupe: noun]
fruit
Example
I always have a piece of fruit with my breakfast. [fruit: noun]
Example
She added some diced pineapple to the stir-fry for extra flavor. [pineapple: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fruit is a much more common word than melon and is used in everyday language to refer to any edible part of a plant that contains seeds. Melon is less commonly used and is typically reserved for specific types of fruit with a hard outer rind and soft, juicy flesh inside.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between melon and fruit?
Both melon and fruit are relatively informal words and can be used in casual conversation or writing. However, in more formal contexts, it may be more appropriate to use more specific terms, such as watermelon or tropical fruit instead of melon or fruit.