Cajun

1 of 3

noun (1)

Ca·​jun ˈkā-jən 

variants or less commonly Cajan

: a Louisianian descended from French-speaking immigrants from Acadia

Cajun

2 of 3

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the Cajuns

2

: of, relating to, or prepared in a style of cooking originating among the Cajuns and characterized by the use of hot seasonings (such as cayenne pepper)

cadjan

3 of 3

noun (2)

cadj·​an

variants or less commonly cajan

ˈkäjən, 

ˌjän

or cajang

-ˌjäŋ

plural -s

1

: interwoven coco-palm leaves for thatching

2

: a strip of fan-palm leaf (as of the talipot) used as writing material

also : a document written on a palm leaf

Examples of Cajun in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Darren Indovina moved to Monett, Missouri and opened a Cajun seafood restaurant, introducing his hometown flavors to the Ozarks. —Dian Zhang, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025

The United Cajun Navy said volunteers spotted his remains using thermal drones. —Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025

Later that day, Kirkpatrick confirmed that the United Cajun Navy's drone located his remains about 200 yards into the marsh, not far from where he was reported missing, according to FOX affiliate WVUE. —Jillian Frankel, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Dine on fusion dishes like Cajun shrimp eggrolls and Asian baby back ribs. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

alteration of Acadian

Noun (2)

Malay kajan

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1862, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Cajun

• contagion

Kids Definition

Cajun

1 of 2 noun

Ca·​jun ˈkā-jən 

: a Louisianian whose ancestors were French-speaking immigrants from Acadia, Canada

Cajun

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of or relating to the Cajuns

2

: prepared in a cooking style originating with the Cajuns and marked by the use of hot seasonings (as cayenne pepper)

Etymology

Noun

from an altered form of Acadian