jambalaya

noun

jam·​ba·​laya ˌjəm-bə-ˈlī-ə How to pronounce jambalaya (audio)
1
: rice cooked usually with ham, sausage, chicken, shrimp, or oysters and seasoned with herbs
2
: a mixture of diverse elements
curious jambalayas of competing elementsNeil Hickey

Examples of jambalaya in a Sentence

its jambalaya of widely diverse nationalities and races gives the urban neighborhood a rich vitality
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.
My two daughters, who are both teenagers and are becoming amazing young women. District 10: U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin Favorite Thanksgiving dish: My wife Linda’s homemade jambalaya! Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 26 Nov. 2024 Settle in at the 200-seat patio for orders of shrimp and grits and jambalaya, and save room for dessert—on Wednesdays, their Sip and Slice promo ($17) features a glass of Champagne or Aperol Spritz with a slice of Smith’s famous Hummingbird Cake. Nicole Schnitzler, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 July 2024 The seasonal, seven-course menu often features a Louisiana rice offering that emphasizes the similarities between New Orleans jambalaya and the Senegalese version of jollof rice. Rosalind Cummings-Yeates, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 June 2024 The jambalaya is a standout, loaded with chicken and sausage. Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for jambalaya 

Word History

Etymology

Louisiana French, from Occitan jambalaia

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of jambalaya was in 1872

Dictionary Entries Near jambalaya

Cite this Entry

“Jambalaya.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jambalaya. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

jambalaya

noun
jam·​ba·​laya ˌjəm-bə-ˈlī-ə How to pronounce jambalaya (audio)
: rice cooked with ham, sausage, chicken, shrimps, or oysters and seasoned with herbs
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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