cornmeal
Americannoun
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Also called Indian meal. coarsely ground, unsifted white or yellow corn used in various boiled, fried, or baked dishes.
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(in Scotland) oatmeal.
Etymology
Origin of cornmeal
Compare meaning
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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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
East Tennessee's water-powered Old Mill first began grinding cornmeal back in 1830 in the deep Appalachian region along the Little Pigeon River.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
Her father, Robert Lee Parton, was a tobacco farmer and paid a missionary a sack of cornmeal for delivering her.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
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
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
When he finally turned around, they were together, the hunter kneeling beside the woman, placing pinches of cornmeal on the deer’s nose, whispering to it.
From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko
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