quinoa

noun

qui·​noa ˈkēn-ˌwä How to pronounce quinoa (audio)
kē-ˈnō-ə
: an annual herb (Chenopodium quinoa) of the amaranth family that is native to the Andean highlands and is cultivated for its starchy seeds which are used as food and ground into flour
also : its seeds

Examples of quinoa 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.
Dishes like the delicate John Dory, razor clam and quinoa, or the unorthodox crawfish with Korean soup, are an exhilarating celebration of flavor, texture and craftsmanship. Isabelle Kliger, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 After being made aware of her video, Monadnock Food Co-op had to issue a recall and refunds for their organic red quinoa, organic white quinoa, organic tri-color quinoa, organic cornmeal, organic polenta, organic coconut shreds, and their raw walnuts. Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025 The affected products include quinoa, cornmeal, polenta, coconut shreds and walnuts. Terry Dickerson, NBC News, 25 Feb. 2025 The contaminated products included organic quinoa, organic cornmeal, organic polenta, organic coconut shreds and raw walnuts. Mark Price, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for quinoa

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Quechua kinua

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quinoa was in 1625

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Cite this Entry

“Quinoa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quinoa. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

quinoa

noun
qui·​noa ki-ˈnō-ə How to pronounce quinoa (audio)
: a goosefoot that occurs in the Andes and has starchy seeds that are used as food and ground into flour
also : its seeds

More from Merriam-Webster on quinoa

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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