sorghum

noun

sor·​ghum ˈsȯr-gəm 

1

: any of an economically important genus (Sorghum) of Old World tropical grasses similar to corn in habit but with the spikelets in pairs on a hairy rachis

especially : any of various cultivars (such as grain sorghum or sorgo) derived from a wild form (S. bicolor synonym S. vulgare)

2

: syrup from the juice of a sorgo that resembles cane syrup

Illustration of sorghum

• sorghum 1

Examples of sorghum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Today, the company sells a variety of grains – including blue corn, red winter wheat, oats, and gluten-free options like millet and sorghum – to more than two dozen Colorado spirits makers from the Front Range to the Western Slope. —Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025

Remove from heat and drizzle with sorghum. —Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Oct. 2025

The emergency commodity assistance program provides payments to agricultural producers for eligible crops like rice, cotton and sorghum to help mitigate the effects of higher production costs and lower commodity prices. —Cristina Larue, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2025

New Grist is made with sorghum, malted millet, rice, hops, water and gluten-free yeast. —Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, jsonline.com, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Italian sorgo, from Vulgar Latin *Syricum (granum), literally, Syrian grain

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sorghum

• grain sorghum
• sweet sorghum

Kids Definition

sorghum

noun

sor·​ghum ˈsȯr-gəm 

1

: any of a genus of Old World tropical grasses that look like corn

especially : one cultivated for grain, forage, or syrup

2

: syrup made from a sorghum