millet

noun

mil·​let ˈmi-lət 

1

: any of various small-seeded annual cereal and forage grasses:

a

: a Eurasian grass (Panicum miliaceum) cultivated for its grain which is used for food

b

: any of several grasses related to common millet

2

: the seed of a millet

Examples of millet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Barley, sorghum, oats, millet, rye, and wild rice are grasses, too. — Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026

Gluten-free sourdough bread is made with gluten-free flours such as those made with millet, sorghum, teff, quinoa, and buckwheat. — Jillian Kubala, Health, 21 June 2026

Ultimately, both oats and millet are great choices for your plate. — Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 4 May 2026

The exact cooking time changes from grain to grain — farro and rye berries take longer than quinoa or millet — but the underlying technique is the same. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English milet, from Middle French, from Old French, diminutive of mil, from Latin milium; akin to Greek melinē millet

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing millet

• foxtail millet
• Japanese millet
• pearl millet

Rhymes for millet

• billet
• skillet
• willet
• acrylate
• cacodylate
• carboxylate
• methacrylate

Kids Definition

millet

noun

mil·​let ˈmil-ət 

1

: a grass cultivated for its small shiny whitish seeds used as human and bird food and sometimes grown for hay

2

: the seed of a millet

Biographical Definition

Millet

biographical name

Mil·​let mē-ˈyā  mi-ˈlā 

Jean-François 1814–1875 French painter