hummus
Americannoun
noun
Commonly Confused
See humus
Etymology
Origin of hummus
First recorded in 1950–55; from Turkish humus “mashed chickpeas,” or from Arabic ḥummuṣ, ḥəmmoṣ “chickpeas”
Compare meaning
How does hummus compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Hummus is a Middle Eastern food made of mashed chickpeas. If you want a delicious and healthy lunch, try hummus stuffed in a whole wheat pita with tomatoes, cucumber, and grilled eggplant. There are many varieties of hummus, but the classic recipe includes sesame paste (also called tahini), chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Hummus is sometimes served as a dip with pita or as a spread inside a sandwich. While it originated in the Middle East, hummus is common all over the world today. Its full Arabic name is ḥummuṣ bi ṭaḥīna, or "chickpeas with tahini."
Vocabulary lists containing hummus
English Food and Drink Words Derived from Arabic
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World Cuisine - Introductory
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World Cuisine - Middle School and High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What you get is something between hummus and refried beans—creamy, earthy, deeply scoopable.
From Salon • May 5, 2026
The chain, which was founded in London in 1999, says its aim is to "take you to Greece" with its blue and white decor, down-to-earth atmosphere, and hummus and moussaka-laden menu.
From BBC • May 1, 2026
Thornton made salmon and fried okra with spicy hummus with Hunter Fieri.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026
The hostess usually puts on a nice spread: dips, fresh bread, cuts of ham and beef, Christmas tree-shaped chips with hummus and salsa cruda, mince pies, chocolate squares, etc.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 24, 2025
They would walk to the falafel place on Howe Street for hummus, and sit in a dark corner talking for hours, and finally emerge, tongues smarting with garlic.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
