nori

American  

[nawr-ee] / ˈnɔr i /

noun

Cooking.

plural

noris

1. a seaweed having a mildly sweet, salty taste, usually dried, used in Japanese cuisine mainly as a wrap for sushi.

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nori British  

/ ˈnɔːrɪ /

noun

1. an edible seaweed often used in Japanese cookery, esp for wrapping sushi or rice balls

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Etymology

Origin of nori

First recorded in 1890–95; from Japanese: literally, “edible seaweed, laver,” equivalent to no “water” + ri “lichen, moss”

Example Sentences

And don’t forget the nori if you’re making sushi.

From Salon • Dec. 4, 2025

Onigiri is popular among customers who want grab-and-go meals as the rice balls are easy to carry - wrapped in nori or dried seaweed and filled with protein like tuna salad or cod eggs.

From BBC • Aug. 18, 2025

Kombu hails from kelp and is thicker and more substantial, while nori is derived from red algae.

From Salon • May 14, 2024

The wrapper is separated from the filling, keeping the nori crisp; figuring out how to open them is the biggest challenge for some new diners.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 19, 2023

It’s John Jr., carrying in a tray of rice crackers wrapped in roasted nori, salted nuts, strips of dried squid.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee