polenta
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of polenta
First recorded before 1000; from Middle English pol(l)enta “fine meal; porridge made of fine meal,” Old English polente “parched grain or meal,” from Latin polenta “hulled, crushed grain; barley meal”; reborrowed in the 18th century from Italian polenta “kind of dish made of refined corn (or other) meal”
Explanation
Polenta is an Italian dish made from cornmeal. Polenta is usually prepared to be a soft, savory porridge and is often served with cheese. Depending on how you cook polenta, it can be a breakfast food, a comforting creamy side dish, or a more solid, chewy base for sauce — almost a substitute for pasta. If you trace the Italian word back to the Latin root, it literally means "peeled barley," and is closely related to pollen, "powder or fine flour." Today's polenta always comes from corn — and it's nearly always delicious.
Vocabulary lists containing polenta
World Cuisine - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
World Cuisine - Middle School and High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
5th Grade World Cuisine, List 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
"You go up north and you might only find tomatoes in the summer and you'll find the likes of goulash, polenta and buckwheat which you would never find in the south," Tucci adds.
From BBC • May 9, 2026
Her Swiss chard and okra stew makes a delicious main course served over polenta, while her coconut fish curry evokes the country’s long coast.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
That structure is especially visible in central and northern Italy, where dishes often revolve around meat broths, polenta, beans, chestnuts, and long-cooked cuts meant to feed families over several days.
From Salon • Jan. 24, 2026
“I guess I’m going to have this polenta I’ve had 12 times,” he says, laughing.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2023
“Listen to me, Caleb,” she said, her voice as creamy as the hot polenta.
From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
