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.
Swap out rice for barley in recipes like jambalaya and risotto. Kathi Valeii Published, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2025 The extensive menu is accented by all kinds of coastal favorites—from the popular she-crab soup and Charleston-style lump crab cakes to jambalaya and lobster bisque. Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2025 The sampling menu after the show was catered by J’s Breakfast Club on Broadway in Gary and included everything from the simple fufu, a root dough used to sop up a stew, to seafood gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans and rice, among the dishes. Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025 Visitors had a taste of the famous New Orleans cuisine with staples like red beans and rice, barbecue shrimp and grits, and jambalaya with specialty drinks, including Glenmorangie scotch. Michaela Bechler, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Jambalaya.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jambalaya. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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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