Cajun

American  

[key-juhn] / ˈkeɪ dʒən /

Sometimes Cajan

noun

1. a member of a group of people with an enduring cultural tradition whose French Catholic ancestors established permanent communities in Louisiana and Maine after being expelled from Acadia in the late 18th century.

2. the French dialect of the Cajuns.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Cajuns, especially those of Louisiana.

   Cajun cooking.

Cajun British  

/ ˈkeɪdʒən /

noun

1. a native of Louisiana descended from 18th-century Acadian immigrants

2. the dialect of French spoken by such people

3. the music of this ethnic group, combining blues and European folk music

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adjective

1. denoting, relating to, or characteristic of such people, their language, or their music

Cajun Cultural  

1. A native of Louisiana believed to be descended from the French exiles from Acadia (see Nova Scotia). Cajuns have maintained a separate culture, including a special dialect and distinctive cooking style.

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Etymology

Origin of Cajun

First recorded in 1865–70; shortening of Acadian; compare Injun for Indian

Example Sentences

There was a 12-piece jazz band, Wilson told the fashion publication, and a Cajun meal that reflected her Louisiana roots.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

Cajun chicken pasta is essentially Alfredo in a leather jacket: fettuccine or penne, blackened or “blackened” chicken, a confetti of peppers and scallions, and a liberal snowfall of Cajun seasoning.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

A successful merchant and middleman, Jacob married Marie Estelle Berthelot, a Catholic Cajun woman who later converted to Judaism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

In four large serving trays, Batiste had chicken wings coated in buffalo, lemon pepper, honey lemon Cajun and buffalo lemon pepper sauces ready to give out.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 16, 2025

The men—good Cajun folk—give us a jug of water and PowerBars.

From "Ninth Ward" by Jewell Parker Rhodes