Giovanni da Jean de BoulogneGiambologna, c1525–1608, Italian sculptor, born in France.
a city in N Italy.
1555–65; after Bologna, Italy
Bologna is a sliced sausage often used as lunch meat. If there's "mystery meat" on the menu at school, you'll probably be glad you packed a bologna sandwich. Bologna evolved from mortadella, a pork sausage invented in Bologna, Italy. While bologna is pork-based, it can contain beef, chicken, turkey, or even soy protein. This pale, salty lunch meat is mild in flavor and a favorite with kids who find salami a bit too spicy. The correct pronunciation is "bo-LO-nya," but it's common to say "ba-LO-nee" instead. Experts attribute this to Anglicization, which often leaves Italian words with Y endings — like Italia becoming Italy.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If Charles was spotted eating a bologna sandwich for lunch, you risked teasing if that’s what your mom put in your bag.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026
They endured meager meals, consisting frequently of two bologna sandwiches for breakfast and supper, for months on end while prisons were on lockdown and staff sizes reduced.
From Salon ● Jan. 18, 2024
Lightlife makes sliced “turkey,” and also plant-based ham and bologna, so you can recreate some of the classic combos.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 1, 2023
Lebanon bologna is known for its distinct smoked and tangy flavor.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 27, 2023
Guilt that he hadn’t been home yesterday or the day before to eat bologna sandwiches with Mr. Mosley.
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
“Wes is an amazing community-builder as a human being,” said Peter Becker, president of Criterion, in a video call from the Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna, Italy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
After all, we’re on a planet where the city of Rome has been continually inhabited for 2,700 years, and the University of Bologna has been matriculating students for 938.
From Slate ● Jul. 4, 2026
Derby beat AC Milan and Bologna to sign the 15-year-old from Djurgardens in Sweden, where he moved from Democratic Republic of Congo to live with his brother after losing both parents.
From BBC ● May 5, 2026
"Our study is a reminder that the oldest chronologies must be treated with great caution," explains Sahra Talamo, professor at the University of Bologna and co-coordinator of the study.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 22, 2026
So I turned, desperately now, to Michelangelo di Bologna.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
He composed little, settled down in Paris to grow fat from his well-stocked wine cellar and his imported bolognas.
From Time Magazine Archive
An’ ef de chile didn’t grab one 192 of ma bolognas and done git out de cab an’ run around de house.”
From Our Next-Door Neighbors by Maniates, Belle Kanaris
Before embarking on the Walsh he laid in a stock of "bolognas," a few pounds of the rankest "Sweitzer kase" and an abundance of "pretzels."
From The Expressman and the Detective by Pinkerton, Allan
"Does he mean our rations have gone short, and that we'll have to go collecting bolognas?" innocently asked a young American, who had lately joined.
From Air Service Boys Over The Rhine Fighting Above The Clouds by Beach, Charles Amory
Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland, all contribute, as does India, Persia, Arabia, and each pay their quota, in sour-krout, raisins, parmera, bolognas, curacao, rice, sago, soy, potatoes, etc.
From The Physiology of Taste by Robinson, Fayette
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.
