millet

noun

mil·​let ˈmi-lət 

1

: any of various small-seeded annual cereal and forage grasses:

a

: a Eurasian grass (Panicum miliaceum) cultivated for its grain which is used for food

b

: any of several grasses related to common millet

2

: the seed of a millet

Examples of millet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Broccoli supports digestion and immunity, and millet is a great source of fiber, B vitamins, and magnesium. —Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025

House sparrows prefer to be near humans, so place a birdhouse away from the house and avoid feeding smaller seeds like millet, cracked corn, and milo, which sparrows love. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2025

Cover crops like millet, sorghum, and black-eyed peas have been successful at the botanic gardens. —Daryln Brewer Hoffstot Kristian Thacker, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

In order to get adequate fiber, focus on whole grains, including oats, millet, brown rice, rye, and quinoa. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English milet, from Middle French, from Old French, diminutive of mil, from Latin milium; akin to Greek melinē millet

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing millet

• foxtail millet
• Japanese millet
• pearl millet

Rhymes for millet

• billet
• skillet
• willet
• acrylate
• carboxylate
• methacrylate

Kids Definition

millet

noun

mil·​let ˈmil-ət 

1

: a grass cultivated for its small shiny whitish seeds used as human and bird food and sometimes grown for hay

2

: the seed of a millet

Biographical Definition

Millet

biographical name

Mil·​let mē-ˈyā 

mi-ˈlā

Jean-François 1814–1875 French painter