sorghum

noun

sor·​ghum ˈsȯr-gəm How to pronounce sorghum (audio)
1
: any of an economically important genus (Sorghum) of Old World tropical grasses similar to corn in habit but with the spikelets in pairs on a hairy rachis
especially : any of various cultivars (such as grain sorghum or sorgo) derived from a wild form (S. bicolor synonym S. vulgare)
2
: syrup from the juice of a sorgo that resembles cane syrup

Illustration of sorghum

Illustration of sorghum
  • sorghum 1

Examples of sorghum 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.
If your current diet is low in whole grains, try experimenting with different sources, like quinoa, teff, sorghum, buckwheat, and barley. Jillian Kubala, Health, 21 Apr. 2025 Five years ago, a tractor wove through the site cultivating sorghum, which gave way to 40,000 seedlings. Laura Mallonee, Wired News, 12 Apr. 2025 China’s government retaliated expeditiously, announcing 15-percent duties on American agricultural products like cotton, chicken, corn and wheat, as well as 10-percent tariffs on pork, beef, dairy products, seafood, soybeans and sorghum, all of which will take effect March 10. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 4 Mar. 2025 The announcements affect one company exporting sorghum, C&D Inc., and four poultry companies. Time, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sorghum

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Italian sorgo, from Vulgar Latin *Syricum (granum), literally, Syrian grain

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sorghum was in 1597

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sorghum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sorghum. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

sorghum

noun
sor·​ghum ˈsȯr-gəm How to pronounce sorghum (audio)
1
: any of a genus of Old World tropical grasses that look like corn
especially : one cultivated for grain, forage, or syrup
2
: syrup made from a sorghum

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