sorghum

noun

sor·​ghum ˈsȯr-gəm How to pronounce sorghum (audio)
1
: any of an economically important genus (Sorghum) of Old World tropical grasses similar to corn in habit but with the spikelets in pairs on a hairy rachis
especially : any of various cultivars (such as grain sorghum or sorgo) derived from a wild form (S. bicolor synonym S. vulgare)
2
: syrup from the juice of a sorgo that resembles cane syrup

Illustration of sorghum

Illustration of sorghum
  • sorghum 1

Examples of sorghum 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.
Researchers are working to develop perennial versions of common annual grains like wheat, sorghum and rice, but the work is slow. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026 Try a breakfast porridge made with oats, sorghum, quinoa, or buckwheat. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2026 Adaptable to most any ingredient, it could be sweetened with molasses or sorghum, even maple syrup popular in New England and with Quakers and abolitionists. — Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 2 July 2026 Shāng starts out as baijiu, a very popular Chinese spirit that is distilled from red sorghum sourced from the Chìshuǐ River basin. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sorghum

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Italian sorgo, from Vulgar Latin *Syricum (granum), literally, Syrian grain

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sorghum was in 1597

Phrases Containing sorghum

Browse Nearby Words

sorge
sorghum
sorghum brown
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Cite this Entry

“Sorghum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sorghum. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sorghum

noun
sor·​ghum ˈsȯr-gəm How to pronounce sorghum (audio)
1
: any of a genus of Old World tropical grasses that look like corn
especially : one cultivated for grain, forage, or syrup
2
: syrup made from a sorghum

More from Merriam-Webster on sorghum

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sorghum

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