polenta

noun

po·​len·​ta pō-ˈlen-tə How to pronounce polenta (audio)
pə-
-ˌtä
: mush made of chestnut meal, cornmeal, semolina, or farina

Examples of polenta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Professional judges from Edible Monterey Bay also awarded Best Use of Foraged Ingredients to Chef Pamela Burns of Wild Plum Café for her riff on steak and eggs, a sautee of king trumpets, enoki and porcini with cloves of garlic and soy emulsion over polenta. Laura Ness, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026 Order Nanee’s polenta cakes with a hearty sauce that feels indulgent without being heavy; a seasonal gnocchi, currently with acorn squash and local mushrooms; or osso buco, perfect to share. Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 6 Feb. 2026 From signatures like rigatoni with sausage ragù or tonnarelli cacio e pepe to rotating specials like a squash lasagnetta and agnolotti stuffed with polenta showered in chanterelles, everything is made just a few feet in front of you. Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026 Adjust the texture of your polenta to your liking. Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for polenta

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Latin, crushed and hulled barley; akin to Latin pollen fine flour

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polenta was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Polenta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polenta. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

polenta

noun
po·​len·​ta pō-ˈlen-tə How to pronounce polenta (audio)
: mush made of chestnut meal, cornmeal, or grain

Biographical Definition

Polenta

biographical name

Po·​len·​ta pō-ˈlen-tə How to pronounce Polenta (audio)
Francesca da died 1283(or 1284) Francesca da Rimini ˌfran-ˈche-skə-dä-ˈri-mə-(ˌ)nē How to pronounce Polenta (audio)
ˌfrän-
-ˈrē-
Italian noblewoman famous for tragic adulterous love affair

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