whole grain

noun

plural whole grains

: an unmilled grain (such as wheat, rice, or barley) having its bran, germ, and endosperm intact

Start with a whole grain, such as brown rice, millet, or whole wheat.

—Cynthia Lair

Fill half your plate with a variety of vegetables and fruit. Add 20 to 30 grams of protein as well as carbs like sweet potatoes, quinoa, beans and whole grains.

—Emily Marrison

also : a grain that has been ground or processed but not hulled or refined

Processed whole grains are whole grains that have been cracked (as in cracked wheat bread), rolled (as in rolled oat cereal), crushed or ground (as in whole-wheat flour and bulgur) or extruded (as in whole-wheat pasta). They provide the same nutrients found in the original kernel of grain.

—Anastasia Schepers

Whole-grain flours have a more complex taste and create a heartier texture than refined white flours because they include the bran and germ.

—Chicago Sun-Times

Examples of whole grain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And while protein is often a priority for GLP-1 users, don’t overlook thiamine-rich foods like beans, whole grains, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, salmon and pork. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 12 Aug. 2026

Fiber from vegetables, berries, and whole grains helps slow the rate at which glucose enters the bloodstream after digestion. — Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 12 Aug. 2026

They can be applied to foods like whole grain bread, yogurt and granola that are all highly processed but still considered nutritious. — Matthew Perrone, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026

They can be often applied to foods like whole grain bread, yogurt and granola that are all highly processed but still considered nutritious. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for whole grain

• aeroplane
• appertain
• ascertain
• capitaine
• cassegrain
• cellophane
• chatelaine
• counterpane
• entertain
• halothane
• hurricane
• hyperplane