creole

1 of 2

adjective

cre·​ole ˈkrē-ˌōl 

1

or Creole : of or relating to Creoles or their language

2

or Creole : relating to or being highly seasoned food typically prepared with rice, okra, tomatoes, and peppers

shrimp creole

Creole

2 of 2

noun

Cre·​ole ˈkrē-ˌōl 

plural Creoles

1

: a person of European descent born especially in the West Indies or Spanish America

2

: a white person descended from early French or Spanish settlers of the U.S. Gulf states and preserving their speech and culture

3

: a person of mixed French or Spanish and Black descent speaking a dialect of French or Spanish

4

a

usually creole plural creoles : a language that has evolved from two or more other languages as a result of contact between speakers of the languages and that serves as the native language of a speech community

… their language, a creole of west African languages and English.

—Dasia Moore

b

: any of various creoles

They spoke Creole, he spoke French, but somehow they reached a point where everyone was happy.

—Richard Villar

Cape Verdean Creole

Guyanese Creole

: such as

(1)

: a French-based language that is spoken by Black people in southern Louisiana

(2)

: haitian creole

c

creole plural creoles : a language that has evolved from a pidgin but serves as the native language of a speech community

—often capitalized when used in the names of specific creoles

Cape Verdean Creole

Guyanese Creole

Examples of creole in a Sentence

Noun

Some people in Louisiana speak Creole.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Some of the healthier options available at Blue Bayou include brussels sprout and Tasso salad, market fish, and creole roasted chicken. —Daryl Austin, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

In Boston, the entrees include creole pasta, oxtails and grits, lobster mac and cheese and other delights. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2024

Noun

The melting-pot Creole cuisine and Creole language found on the island today are a legacy of these successive waves of forced labor, a cultural mix 400 years in the making. —Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2025

Related article Pope Leo XIV’s unexpected New Orleans Creole background excites city’s large Catholic community The boy whose deep sense of community and compassion was molded by his experiences in the village of Dolton was made a cardinal later that year. —Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 15 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French créole, from Spanish criollo, from Portuguese crioulo white person born in the colonies

First Known Use

Adjective

1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1697, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing creole

• Haitian Creole

Kids Definition

creole

1 of 2 adjective

cre·​ole ˈkrē-ˌōl 

1

often capitalized : of or relating to the Creoles or their language

2

often capitalized : relating to or being the traditional spicy food of the Creoles

Creole

2 of 2 noun

Cre·​ole ˈkrē-ˌōl 

1

: a white person descended from early French or Spanish settlers in the U.S. Gulf states

2

: a person of mixed French or Spanish and Black descent speaking a dialect of French or Spanish

3

a

: a language evolved from a pidgin based on French that is spoken by Black people in southern Louisiana

b

not capitalized : a language that has evolved from a pidgin and serves as the native language of a group of people