maize

American  

[meyz] / meɪz /

noun

maizes plural

1. (chiefly in British and technical usage) corn.

2. a pale yellow resembling the color of corn.

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maize British  

/ meɪz /

noun

1. Also called: Indian corn. 

   1. a tall annual grass, Zea mays, cultivated for its yellow edible grains, which develop on a spike

   2. Usual US and Canadian name: corn.  the grain of this plant, used for food, fodder, and as a source of oil See also sweet corn

2. 1. a yellow colour

   2. ( as modifier )

      a maize gown

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• maizes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of maize

First recorded in 1545–55; from Spanish maíz, from Taíno (Hispaniola) mahís

Explanation

Maize is another word for corn, the tall-growing grain that produces yellow kernels on long ears. A small farmer might grow several different types of maize. Maize is more commonly used in Britain than in the United States to talk about corn, but most Americans recognize the word. Sweet maize is the variety that tastes the most delicious — other kinds of maize are grown as grain to feed animals. The word maize comes from the Spanish maíz, or corn, and both the word and the grain itself moved north from Central and South America into North America, where it became the continent's largest grain crop.

Example Sentences

"Maize was not profitable as it was prone to disease," Sola told AFP, hoping for a "rewarding harvest" in his new venture.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Maize increased on tighter seasonal supplies, weather concerns in Brazil and the U.S., and strong ethanol demand due to higher crude prices.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime estate,” said Rochelle Maize of Nourmand & Associates, who’s handling the listing.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2025

Maize prices in Zambia, where 5.8 million people are estimated to face acute food insecurity between October 2024 and March 2025, have reached multiple record highs so far this year.

From Salon • Dec. 2, 2024

Maize is just another word for white corn, and by the end of this story, you won’t believe how much you know about corn.

From "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" by William Kamkwamba