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
Neil HickeyExamples 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
One of the hallmarks of Creole cooking, jambalaya makes a play for most popular.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026
Her pixie haircut, her irresistibly cheeky attitude behind the gas mask — the photo made its way everywhere, even to her home in Louisiana, to her grandfather’s general store in Gonzalez — the jambalaya capital of the world.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
There will be homemade goods like gumbo and jambalaya, and kids can enjoy watching educational shows and play in the carnival.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
The menu is packed with Cajun favorites like jambalaya, along with creative bites such as bacon jam beignets, which won first place for Best Dessert at this year’s Gold Buckle Foodie Awards.
—Sonia Garcia, Houston Chronicle, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for jambalaya
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026
Her pixie haircut, her irresistibly cheeky attitude behind the gas mask — the photo made its way everywhere, even to her home in Louisiana, to her grandfather’s general store in Gonzalez — the jambalaya capital of the world.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
There will be homemade goods like gumbo and jambalaya, and kids can enjoy watching educational shows and play in the carnival.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
The menu is packed with Cajun favorites like jambalaya, along with creative bites such as bacon jam beignets, which won first place for Best Dessert at this year’s Gold Buckle Foodie Awards.
—Sonia Garcia, Houston Chronicle, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for jambalaya
Cite this Entry
“Jambalaya.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jambalaya. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
jambalaya
noun
jam·ba·laya
ˌjəm-bə-ˈlī-ə
: rice cooked with ham, sausage, chicken, shrimps, or oysters and seasoned with herbs
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
