Botanically, tomatoes are classified as berries.

In the field of botany, a berry is defined as a simple fleshy fruit that develops from a single ovary and contains one or more seeds. This classification is based on the internal structure of the plant rather than its flavor profile. Under this strict definition, tomatoes, grapes, and even watermelons are technically berries, while strawberries and raspberries are not because they develop from multiple ovaries.The confusion between culinary and botanical definitions led to a famous legal battle in the United States. In the 1893 case Nix v. Hedden, the U.S. Supreme Court was tasked with deciding if tomatoes should be taxed under the Tariff Act of 1883. At the time, imported vegetables were taxed while imported fruits were not. Justice Horace Gray wrote the unanimous opinion, stating that although tomatoes are botanically fruits, they are used as vegetables in the kitchen and should be taxed accordingly.This ruling highlighted the difference between scientific taxonomy and common usage. Botanists categorize plants based on reproductive structures and tissue types, whereas chefs categorize them based on sugar content and meal placement. Today, the tomato remains one of the most prominent examples of a plant that holds dual identities as both a fruit and a vegetable depending on the context.