rigatoni

noun

rig·​a·​to·​ni ˌri-gə-ˈtō-nē How to pronounce rigatoni (audio)
: pasta made in short wide fluted tubes

Examples of rigatoni 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.
Dining here feels like eating at a friend's home—that is, if your friend could whip up a downright decadent vodka rigatoni. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026 The first course consists of a burrata and prosciutto salad, spicy rigatoni, lamb lollipops or smoked salmon cheese puffs. — Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026 Long strands like spaghetti or linguine may not bulk up quite as much after cooking, while short shapes like penne or rigatoni can swell up in size, taking up more plate space. — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026 For entrees, there are pasta dishes like mushroom Bolognese and meatball rigatoni. — Connie Ogle updated May 28, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for rigatoni

Word History

Etymology

Italian, plural, from rigato furrowed, fluted, from past participle of rigare to furrow, flute, from riga line, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German rīga line — more at row

First Known Use

circa 1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rigatoni was circa 1923

Rhymes for rigatoni

See All Rhymes for rigatoni

Browse Nearby Words

rigation
rigatoni
Rigel
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rigatoni.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rigatoni. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on rigatoni

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rigatoni

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All