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.
The rhythmic movement and sore muscles that come from slowly stirring polenta, the way the earthy, nourishing aroma slowly fills the room as the grains start to thicken.
From Salon • Jan. 24, 2026
A braised beef ragù that’s great on top of pasta or a creamy polenta, or as a stew if you add more vegetables.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026
The caption of the video, which was shared in conjunction with the Instagram account home.made.nation, notes that Ray served the Bennetts osso bucco with creamy polenta and bread.
From Salon • Sep. 4, 2024
“I came with my American dream, but Tijuana claimed me,” Petit Frere said with a laugh as cooks worked from a menu that includes polenta with black beans and fried fish with banana.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 23, 2024
As soon as he took the pan off the heat, the polenta started to firm up.
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.
