empanada

noun

em·​pa·​na·​da ˌem-pə-ˈnä-də How to pronounce empanada (audio)
: a turnover with a sweet or savory filling

Examples of empanada in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The park's other standout dining location is also in this area, as the Jurassic World Canteen boasts an eclectic menu with chicken and beef skewers and a Nathan's hot dog wrapped in an empanada crust. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026 Rosario chewed on his empanada. Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 18 June 2026 The recipe comes from Guatemalan chef and author Amalia Moreno-Damgaard, who uses frozen, pre-cut empanada wrappers to make things easy. Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 16 June 2026 Led by Chef Jonathan Leonard, the counter service-only restaurant will offer handmade empanadas with unique fillings, like Caribbean oxtail and Cajun crab mac & cheese. Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for empanada

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, from Spanish, feminine of empanado, past participle of empanar to bread, from em- (from Latin in-) + pan bread, from Latin panis — more at food

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of empanada was in 1866

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Cite this Entry

“Empanada.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empanada. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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