Word riddle: What kind of "apple" is commonly called an apple but is not actually an apple?

Introduction / Context:
This question plays with everyday names in English rather than with strict scientific definitions. Many fruits and plants are named using the word "apple", but not all of them are true apples in the botanical or ordinary sense. The riddle asks which "apple" is not actually an apple, encouraging you to recall common fruits and to distinguish between naming traditions and literal meanings.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The riddle asks for a kind of "apple" that is not really an apple.
• Options include pineapple, crab apple, custard apple, rose apple and apple pear.
• We assume general, everyday understanding of these fruits.
• The question focuses on the idea that the name contains "apple", but the fruit itself is different.

Concept / Approach:
A true apple, in everyday language, is the familiar fruit from apple trees such as red, green or yellow apples. Some related fruits, like crab apples, are small varieties of true apples. Other fruits such as pineapple are completely different species whose names simply happen to include the word "apple". A pineapple is a tropical fruit with a rough, spiky skin and sweet, fibrous flesh. It is not a variety of apple at all. The riddle expects you to recognise that pineapple is the odd one out in this list.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider crab apples. They are small, sour apples, often used for jelly and preserves, but they are still genuine apples. Step 2: Consider custard apples and rose apples. Even if they are not exactly the same as ordinary apples, their common names and uses are closer to soft or apple like fruits. Step 3: Examine pineapple. Visually, it looks completely different from an apple: it has a thick, tough, patterned skin and a spiky crown of leaves. Step 4: Think about taste and usage. Pineapple is a tropical fruit often eaten fresh, in juices or on desserts, and is not considered a type of apple. Step 5: Note that the only connection between pineapple and apples is the word "apple" in the name; there is no direct botanical or everyday classification that treats it as an apple. Step 6: Therefore, pineapple is the correct answer to the riddle.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, ask whether each fruit could reasonably be found in a category called "apples" in a grocery store. Crab apples might be placed with apples as a small variety. Custard apples and rose apples might be near tropical fruits but still sometimes associated with apple like textures or uses. Pineapples, however, are always treated as a totally separate fruit type and are never sold as a variety of apple. This everyday observation supports the conclusion that pineapple is not an apple.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, crab apple, is wrong because it is a recognised type of small apple.

Option C, custard apple, refers to a soft, sweet fruit that, while distinct, is often grouped with apple like fruits and is not the standard riddle answer.

Option D, rose apple, is also used as the common name for certain fruits; the riddle does not typically single it out.

Option E, apple pear, is a hybrid style fruit that resembles both apples and pears and still relates closely to apples.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to overthink the botanical details or to worry about exact scientific classifications. This riddle comes from everyday language, not from advanced botany. The simple and widely recognised answer, found in many children's puzzle books, is pineapple. Remember that many riddles rely on common knowledge and simple word associations, not on technical definitions.

Final Answer:
The "apple" that is not really an apple is the pineapple.