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.

---

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. corn flour
• cornmeal vs. cornstarch

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

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

L.A. is a city filled with incredible pancake options, whether you prefer yours with a base of buttermilk or cornmeal, filled with blueberries or bananas, or topped with whipped cream.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 26, 2025

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking soda and salt.

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2025

The cornmeal holds its ground, forming tiny, fragrant clumps when it meets melted butter and egg.

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2025

They ate each of them two of the cornmeal cakes and they slept together huddled on the ground in the coats and blankets.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy