popcorn

American

[pop-kawrn] / ˈpɒpˌkɔrn /

noun

any of several varieties of corn whose kernels burst open and puff out when subjected to dry heat.
popped corn.
peanut.

popcorn British

/ ˈpɒpˌkɔːn /

noun

a variety of maize having hard pointed kernels that puff up when heated
the puffed edible kernels of this plant

"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 popcorn

1810–20, short for popped corn. See pop ¹, -ed ², corn ¹

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:

popcorn

Why spend $20 plus a $12 popcorn to see a method actor in a darkened theater when the authentic version is among us, and far more fascinating?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

He had just returned home to Reno after dropping out of community college and was working odd jobs sweeping popcorn at a movie theater and stocking shelves at a local 7-Eleven.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Those have all been encouraging signs for theater owners such as Gunsky, who started serving popcorn at his family-owned CineLux Theatres at age 10 and threaded projectors at 13.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

Odeon Extras members can claim a free large popcorn, even without buying a cinema ticket, while Hobbycraft Club members receive £5 of birthday credit with no minimum spend.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

And then Jack whispers: “That popcorn smells so good.”

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023