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granola

American  
[gruh-noh-luh] / grəˈnoʊ lə /

noun

  1. a breakfast food consisting of rolled oats, brown sugar, nuts, dried fruit, etc., usually served with milk.


granola British  
/ ɡrəˈnəʊlə /

noun

  1. a mixture of rolled oats, brown sugar, nuts, fruit, etc, eaten with milk

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of granola

1870–75; originally a trademark; cf. -ola

Explanation

Granola is a type of cereal made of rolled oats, nuts, and dried fruits. Many people eat granola with yogurt. Hippies love it. We have the great cereal man W.K.Kellog to thank for the word granola, probably from the word grain. The word was originally coined as a trademark (now lapsed) in the 19th century. Although granola is just a delicious food, it’s associated with liberal planet-loving tree huggers, and not always in a good way. If you’re wearing socks with sandals and have a few leaves in your long, uncombed hair, people might tell you you’re "looking granola." Because you are.

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Vocabulary lists containing granola

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.

See Examples For:

You can also add granola with oats and nuts that contribute healthy fats that slow glucose absorption.

From MarketWatch Jun. 21, 2026

Right away, I’ll have granola or Grape Nuts with almond milk and blueberries.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 12, 2026

The wellness obsession is a lucrative and possibly permanent slice of the modern economy, fueled by consumers who scrutinize granola labels, train religiously and shop organic.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 12, 2026

To boost revenues she also sells pantry items such as granola, rice, soft drinks and beef jerky, all from independent producers.

From BBC Jun. 10, 2026

I eat granola bars and play video games in bed for the rest of the day.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

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