wild rice
Americannoun
-
a tall aquatic grass, Zizania aquatica, of northeastern North America.
-
the grain of this plant, used for food.
noun
Etymology
Origin of wild rice
First recorded in 1740–50
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 company normalized now-common food items such as wild rice and almond butter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2025
Grown primarily around the Great Lakes, wild rice has long been a staple in the region, primarily amongst the Indigenous communities in the Midwestern US and Canada.
From Salon ● Mar. 17, 2025
This is another reason that wild rice is such a stellar option for a grain salad, in which it pairs beautifully with whatever mix-ins and garnishes you might opt to use.
From Salon ● Mar. 17, 2025
The changes also expand access to whole grains like quinoa, wild rice and millet and to foods such as teff and whole wheat naan.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 9, 2024
We didn’t get back until dusk because I discovered some wild rice in an ox bow of the stream.
From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
![]()
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.