Cajun

1 of 2

noun

Ca·​jun ˈkā-jən 

variants or less commonly Cajan

: a Louisianian descended from French-speaking immigrants from Acadia

Cajun

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the Cajuns

2

: of, relating to, or prepared in a style of cooking originating among the Cajuns and characterized by the use of hot seasonings (such as cayenne pepper)

Examples of Cajun in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Others debunk this theory, and say shrimp cocktail has roots right here in the South, as part of Cajun cuisine. —Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 9 July 2025

Wendy’s introduced a Cajun Crunch Chicken Sandwich in April, and Chick-fil-A brought back its Spicy Deluxe sandwich at the start of the year. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 8 July 2025

There’s so much to love about the Big Easy—the jazz clubs, the festivals, the independent hotels—but our readers zeroed in on the city’s famous dining scene, which spans many traditions, including Creole and Cajun, barbecue, and French. —Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025

An incident commander for the Cajun Navy, a volunteer disaster relief group, said people from over six states were aiding. —Annabella Rosciglione, The Washington Examiner, 6 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of Acadian

First Known Use

Noun

1868, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Cajun

• contagion

Kids Definition

Cajun

1 of 2 noun

Ca·​jun ˈkā-jən 

: a Louisianian whose ancestors were French-speaking immigrants from Acadia, Canada

Cajun

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of or relating to the Cajuns

2

: prepared in a cooking style originating with the Cajuns and marked by the use of hot seasonings (as cayenne pepper)

Etymology

Noun

from an altered form of Acadian