: a tall annual cereal grass (Zea mays) originally domesticated in Mexico and widely grown for its large elongated ears of starchy seeds : corn entry 1 sense 4
Along with maize, their main food, the ancient Maya planted squash, beans, peppers, cacao, and other plants, all of which they used for food or medicinal purposes.—
Evelyn Dana Feld
Evelyn Dana FeldBut evidence has been elusive, because the standard macrofossils—say, squash rinds or maize kernels—quickly rot in the sultry climate.—Kathryn Brown
Kathryn BrownExamples of maize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In its first full year, 1846, Robert Peel’s Conservative government imported huge quantities of corn, known in Europe as maize, from America to feed the starving.
—Fintan O'Toole, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
The project integrates indigenous farming practices like crop rotation and intercropping (e.g., maize with beans) to maintain soil health and maximize land use.
—Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Some shouted and danced; others raced to the market immediately to buy maize.
—Erika Page, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Apr. 2025
The team's analysis revealed that maize was a common component of the human diet for all of the sampled individuals.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for maize
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Fintan O'Toole, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
The project integrates indigenous farming practices like crop rotation and intercropping (e.g., maize with beans) to maintain soil health and maximize land use.
—Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Some shouted and danced; others raced to the market immediately to buy maize.
—Erika Page, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Apr. 2025
The team's analysis revealed that maize was a common component of the human diet for all of the sampled individuals.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for maize
Cite this Entry
“Maize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maize. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
maize
nounLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share