Is an eggplant a fruit or vegetable?

The eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a plant species in the nightshade family Solanaceae. It is widely grown for its edible fruit, which is commonly referred to as an "eggplant" or "aubergine". Botanically, the eggplant fruit is a berry, which botanically speaking is a type of fruit. So, from a scientific standpoint, an eggplant is indeed a fruit. However, in culinary usage, eggplants are often treated and used as a vegetable due to their savory taste and the way they are typically incorporated into dishes.