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
Jorge, whom I met selling bologna in the market, used to be an engineer at a state enterprise.
From Salon • Feb. 15, 2026
But the military changed Vance’s perspective on food — specifically the fare of his upbringing, such as bologna sandwiches topped with crumbled potato chips.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 13, 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
“I can make you a bologna sandwich if you want,” said Burke.
From "Louisiana's Way Home" by Kate DiCamillo
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.
