“Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable?”

A tomato is both a fruit and a vegetable, depending on the context:

Botanically: A fruit

Scientifically, a tomato is a fruit—specifically a berry—because it develops from the ovary of a flowering plant and contains seeds. This places it in the same category as apples and peaches.

Culinarily: A vegetable

In cooking and everyday use, tomatoes are treated as vegetables because of their savory flavor profile. They're used in salads, soups, and sauces rather than desserts or sweet dishes.

Legally: A vegetable

The U.S. Supreme Court ⚖️ settled this question in the 1893 case Nix v. Hedden, ruling that tomatoes should be classified as vegetables for trade 🤝 and tariff purposes. The Court ⚖️ acknowledged the botanical truth but based its decision on common culinary usage.

Short answer: Botanically a fruit; in the kitchen and by law ⚖️, usually a vegetable.