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

See Examples For:

cornmeal

Johnnycakes, Rhode Island’s famous cornmeal pancakes, were another dish mentioned by readers that I’ve gotten to enjoy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Once sliced, the tomatoes are dipped in flour, then in eggs and, finally, in coarse cornmeal before they are fried to golden-brown perfection.

From Salon ● Apr. 6, 2026

He said he expects other food items with longer shelf life, such as rice and cornmeal, to follow suit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 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

She cracked a couple of eggs into a yellow bowl and started whisking in milk, then cornmeal.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker