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• bologna
  bologna

  noun

  a large seasoned sausage made of finely ground meat, usually beef and pork, that has been cooked and smoked.
• Bologna
  Bologna

  noun

  Giovanni da Jean de BoulogneGiambologna, c1525–1608, Italian sculptor, born in France.

bologna

¹ American  

[buh-loh-nee, -nuh, -lohn-yuh] / bəˈloʊ ni, -nə, -ˈloʊn yə /

noun

1. a large seasoned sausage made of finely ground meat, usually beef and pork, that has been cooked and smoked.

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Bologna ² American  

[buh-lohn-yuh, baw-law-nyah] / bəˈloʊn yə, bɔˈlɔ nyɑ /

noun

1. Giovanni da Jean de BoulogneGiambologna, c1525–1608, Italian sculptor, born in France.

2. a city in N Italy.

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Bologna ¹ British  

/ boˈloɲɲa, bəˈləʊnjə /

noun

1. Ancient name: Bononia.  a city in N Italy, at the foot of the Apennines: became a free city in the Middle Ages; university (1088). Pop: 371 217 (2001)

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Bologna ² British  

/ boˈloɲɲa, bəˈləʊnjə /

noun

1. See Giambologna

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Etymology

Origin of bologna

1555–65; after Bologna, Italy

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

Danny's Jimmy Nardellos and harissa relish with labneh and mint sounded amazing, and I got a kick out of the notion of going from a Chateaubriand to bologna and canned corned beef.

From Salon • May 29, 2024

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

Now, people who already are paying $15 to $25 for craft cocktails are not making the same kinds of choices that led Depression-era or ration-era cooks to make meatloaf out of bologna scraps.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 5, 2023

“Ew, bologna is disgusting,” says the second girl.

From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle