quinoa

noun

qui·​noa ˈkēn-ˌwä 

kē-ˈnō-ə

: an annual herb (Chenopodium quinoa) of the amaranth family that is native to the Andean highlands and is cultivated for its starchy seeds which are used as food and ground into flour

also : its seeds

Examples of quinoa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fiber-rich carbs like whole wheat bread, whole oats, brown rice, quinoa, or sweet potatoes are great choices for breakfast. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 8 Mar. 2026

Key Takeaways Compared to brown rice, quinoa contains more protein, including all essential amino acids. —Kelly Burch, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2026

Heck, even the Condé Nast cafeteria hopped on this trend and made it for the masses, served with warm quinoa and green salad. —Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Mar. 2026

Russ Parsons pays tribute to the most basic of them all, the good ol’ naval orange, in this refreshing quinoa salad, with radishes and fennel. —Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Quechua kinua

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quinoa

• boa
• noa
• noah
• shoah
• toa
• bryozoa
• metazoa
• polyzoa
• protozoa
• spermatozoa

Kids Definition

quinoa

noun

qui·​noa ki-ˈnō-ə 

: a goosefoot that occurs in the Andes and has starchy seeds that are used as food and ground into flour

also : its seeds