sweet corn

American  

noun

1. any of several varieties of corn, especially Zea mays rugosa, the grain or kernels of which are sweet and suitable for eating.

2. Chiefly Northern, North Midland, and Western U.S. the young and tender ears of corn, especially when used as a table vegetable.

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sweet corn British  

noun

1. Also called: sugar corn.   green corn.  a variety of maize, Zea mays saccharata, whose kernels are rich in sugar and eaten as a vegetable when young

2. the unripe ears of maize, esp the sweet kernels removed from the cob, cooked as a vegetable

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Etymology

Origin of sweet corn

An Americanism dating back to 1640–50

Compare meaning

How does sweet-corn compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• field corn vs. sweet corn

Example Sentences

From coastal Jableh, her paternal family’s home, she recalls the aromas of “flavored hookah smoke, nuts toasting on carts, and boiled sweet corn.”

From Los Angeles Times

Picture a burrito bowl layered in reds and greens: cabbage slaw, sweet corn, charred bell peppers, red onion, shredded lettuce, jalapeños.

From Salon

That includes corn tortillas, which can be infused alongside agave into your plant-based milk of choice, and sweet corn, which is Rajendran’s personal favorite.

From Salon

The rest of the meal, fully prepared and frozen, includes mashed potatoes, gravy, macaroni and cheese, sweet corn, green-bean casserole, stuffing, cranberry relish, dinner rolls, a pumpkin pie and an apple cobbler.

From The Wall Street Journal

Elote-Style Loaded Fries with Chicken: Crisp fries piled high with sweet corn, a drizzle of mayo, cotija cheese, cubed grilled chicken, pickled red onion and fresh cilantro.

From Salon