empanada

noun

em·​pa·​na·​da ˌem-pə-ˈnä-də How to pronounce empanada (audio)
: a turnover with a sweet or savory filling

Examples of empanada in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Particular Phoenix locations are trying out bite-sized empanadas full of beef and three-cheese blend sold with Mexican Pizza sauce on the side. Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025 Tango’s offers a whopping 52 fillings for its empanadas. Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 26 Nov. 2025 Where more publicized salons in Manhattan would charge $225 and up for a full set with nail art, my nails would top off at $50 plus tip, as well as the bonus of being fed empanadas during birthday celebrations for neighbors, regular customers, workers, and the workers’ children. Arabelle Sicardi, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025 Even the Nachitoches meat pie — a Cajun version of an empanada, filled with either crawfish or beef — excelled. Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for empanada

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, from Spanish, feminine of empanado, past participle of empanar to bread, from em- (from Latin in-) + pan bread, from Latin panis — more at food

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of empanada was in 1866

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Empanada.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empanada. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

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