cornmeal

American  

[kawrn-meel] / ˈkɔrnˌmil /

noun

1. Also called Indian meal.  coarsely ground, unsifted white or yellow corn used in various boiled, fried, or baked dishes.

2. (in Scotland) oatmeal.

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Etymology

Origin of cornmeal

First recorded in 1740–50; corn ¹ + meal ²

Compare meaning

How does cornmeal compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cornmeal vs. cornstarch
• cornmeal vs. corn flour

Explanation

Cornmeal is a coarse kind of flour made from dried kernels of maize. You can sprinkle cornmeal on a pizza pan to keep the crust from sticking, or cook it with water to make polenta. Grind corn into meal and you get cornmeal, a versatile ingredient that's used in staple foods all over the world. In the U.S., particularly the South, cornmeal is used for grits, fritters, hushpuppies, and cornbread. Mexican cuisines add lime and make masa, the base of tortillas and tamales. Corn congee is a common dish made from cornmeal in several East Asian countries, and in Barbados, cornmeal-based cou-cou is part of the national dish.

Example Sentences

The “Landman” star said the key for good fried okra is to use cornmeal.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

Born into crushing poverty in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, her father paid the doctor who delivered her with a sack of cornmeal.

From Salon • Jan. 19, 2026

It’s a succulent mix of cornmeal, meat, olives, raisins and other delectables cooked and wrapped in banana leaves, a kind of Venezuelan tamale.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2025

With nothing left in her garden, Musole took the deal, which also entitles her to 11 pounds of cornmeal, a staple of local diets, every month.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

They sprinkled the cornmeal on the nose and fed the deer’s spirit.

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko