any of various unleavened, usually whole wheat flatbreads common in South and Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.
(in the Caribbean) flatbread wrapped around a filling of usually curried meat, fish, shellfish, or vegetables.
First recorded in 1830–40; from Hindi, Urdu roṭī “bread,” from Prakrit roṭṭa “rice flour”
A roti is a South Asian flatbread made with whole wheat flour. The next time you order your favorite dishes from an Indian restaurant, get some roti too! In India, a roti is also known as a chapati. These tasty round breads are cooked on a flat grill or in a Tandoor oven, and they're often used to scoop up curries and vegetable dishes. Many other cuisines have a variation on the basic roti. In many Caribbean countries, the word can also refer to a popular sandwich made by wrapping a roti around a savory filling. Roti comes from the Sanskrit word roṭikā, or "bread."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dinner at Kabawa in New York’s East Village begins with “buss-up shut,” a flaky Trinidadian flatbread derived from Indian paratha roti.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026
Standing in line at Gloria's roti shop, I wasn't the only kid with Trini parents.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2023
His surviving livestock — six goats, one cow and a few chickens — stood on one side of the room, while his 10-year old sister, Bakhtawa, cooked roti bread over an open flame.
From New York Times ● Sep. 14, 2022
And some people are grinding the seeds to make flour for bread, cakes and roti.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2022
After a good blaze got going, we warmed our dinner on it, more roti and dal.
From "The Night Diary" by Veera Hiranandani
At Chez Fifi on the Upper East Side, the poulet rôti, served by the half portion, is $78.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
Chang: My poulet rôti potato chip consumption has surprised even me, Mary, though I’ve rationalized it away as best I can.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2023
“It’s called subtlety of taste,” says Mirren after Hassan sprinkles spices on to pigeon fermier rôti aux épices douces.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 8, 2014
Thildette Chalumeau told me: Pot au feu, veal cooked in a casserole in its own juice, rabbits stewed in wine, gigot rôti, pâtisserie—and many other things.
From The Halo by Justice, B. Martin
A stuffed turkey, with sausage balls, was allowed to be better than a dry rôti: a hare, with a pudding and currant jelly, was declared to be delicious.
From Four Years in France or, Narrative of an English Family's Residence there during that Period; Preceded by some Account of the Conversion of the Author to the Catholic Faith by Beste, Henry Digby
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.
