cereal

American  

[seer-ee-uhl] / ˈsɪər i əl /

noun

cereals plural

1. any plant of the grass family yielding an edible grain, as wheat, rye, oats, rice, or corn.

2. the grain itself.

3. some edible preparation of it, especially a breakfast food.

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adjective

1. of or relating to grain or the plants producing it.

cereal British  

/ ˈsɪərɪəl /

noun

1. any grass that produces an edible grain, such as oat, rye, wheat, rice, maize, sorghum, and millet

2. the grain produced by such a plant

3. any food made from this grain, esp breakfast food

4. (modifier) of or relating to any of these plants or their products

   cereal farming

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cereal Scientific  

/ sîr′ē-əl /

1. A grass, such as corn, rice, sorghum, or wheat, whose starchy grains are used as food. Cereals are annual plants, and cereal crops must be reseeded for each growing season. Cereal grasses were domesticated during the Neolithic Period and formed the basis of early agriculture.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncereal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cereals
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cereal

1590–1600; < Latin Cereālis of, pertaining to Ceres; see -al ¹

Explanation

Cereal is a grassy grain used for food, like corn or wheat. But if someone offers you a bowl of cereal, don’t expect a pile of grass. Cereal is also a popular breakfast food served in a bowl with milk. You can use the word cereal when you talk about a grain crop, the harvested grain, or the prepared breakfast food. Oatmeal is a hot cereal, and Cheerios is a cold one. Originally, cereal meant "having to do with edible grain," from the Latin Cerealis, "of grain," but also "of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture." Next time you enjoy a bowl of Fruit Loops, make sure to thank Ceres, the goddess of agriculture.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cereal cereals

News organizations devote way less space to mergers, acquisitions or spinoffs involving toilet paper, paint or breakfast cereal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

With an accurate molecular blueprint available, researchers can now investigate how these compounds from rye pollen, which comes from a cereal crop widely grown for its grain, interact with the immune system.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 6, 2026

But in previous eras, athletes had to be among the very best to book a television commercial or appear on a cereal box.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

But those timings mean he cannot get the cereal straight to a local silo because they are not open then.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

We get up early and watch science videos while eating breakfast cereal.

From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins

While some breakfast cereals are healthy, that is the exception.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 21, 2026

Some cereals and breads are also fortified with it, helping people who do not eat meat get enough.

From Science Daily ● May 27, 2026

The streaming company said it is working with Ferrero Group to bring Charlie and the Chocolate Factory offerings to market, beginning with 10 seasonal and limited-edition chocolates, plus sugar confectionery, ice cream, and cereals.

From Barron's ● May 19, 2026

Traces of glyphosate appear in some popular pantry staples, including cereals and snacks that are beloved by children.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 27, 2026

In the years following 9500 BC, the descendants of the Natufians continued to gather and process cereals, but they also began to cultivate them in more and more elaborate ways.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

Related Words

• bran
• corn
• grain
• rice
• wheat