sloppy joe

noun

slop·​py joe ˈslä-pē-ˈjō How to pronounce sloppy joe (audio)
1
often Sloppy Joe : a loose-fitting sweater especially for girls
2
: ground beef cooked in a thick spicy sauce and usually served on a bun

Examples of sloppy joe 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.
When finished, the pasta sauce should have the texture of and look like a sloppy joe mixture. — Andy Baraghani, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 People can also grab a Sloppy Uff Da (sloppy joe), some limpa bread and Pepperkakor cookies or lingonberry cake (and maybe a shot of that Aquavit). — Annie Alleman, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 Minnesotan Ice Fishing Rally, on Lake Harriet, had sloppy joes and themed beer koozies. — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Today, Culinary Hill has grown into a site that’s 1,379 recipes strong, including classics such as sloppy joes and slow cooker meatballs with grape jelly sauce. — Karla Walsh, CNN Money, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sloppy joe

Word History

Etymology

probably from the name Joe, nickname for Joseph

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sloppy joe was in 1939

Rhymes for sloppy joe

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Browse Nearby Words

sloppy
sloppy joe
slopseller
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Cite this Entry

“Sloppy joe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sloppy%20joe. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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