jambalaya

noun

jam·​ba·​laya ˌjəm-bə-ˈlī-ə 

1

: rice cooked usually with ham, sausage, chicken, shrimp, or oysters and seasoned with herbs

2

: a mixture of diverse elements

curious jambalayas of competing elements

—Neil Hickey

Synonyms

• medley
• variety
• jumble
• assortment
• collage
• gumbo

Examples of jambalaya in a Sentence

its jambalaya of widely diverse nationalities and races gives the urban neighborhood a rich vitality

Recent Examples on the Web

Plantains, jambalaya and curry are all common occurrences on the menu. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2025

While thumbing through early 20th century author Harriet Ross Cloquitt’s 1933 edition of The Savannah Cookbook, King stumbles upon a recipe for jambalaya. —Elizabeth Wellington, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025

The eatery features flavorful Cajun, Creole, and Southern dishes like catfish bites and jambalaya. —Lila Hempel-Edgers, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2025

Her students gather around stainless steel counters, learning to build layers of flavor in jambalaya while Lavigne weaves together technique and history, personal narrative and cultural preservation. —Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Louisiana French, from Occitan jambalaia

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for jambalaya

• jeremiah
• nehemiah
• obadiah
• zechariah
• zephaniah
• gaia
• maia
• maya
• playa
• via
• messiah
• nyaya

Kids Definition

jambalaya

noun

jam·​ba·​laya ˌjəm-bə-ˈlī-ə 

: rice cooked with ham, sausage, chicken, shrimps, or oysters and seasoned with herbs