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

The menu plays on Lowcountry classics with dishes like charred okra, she-crab soup, sourdough bread served alongside sorghum butter, and perloo, a traditional one-pot meal popular in South Carolina and Georgia. —Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026

Experts recommend eating a variety of whole grains, such as quinoa, teff, brown rice, and sorghum. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 27 Feb. 2026

Bags of sorghum at the Gharb Al Matta IDP site in Kassala, Sudan. —Time, 26 Feb. 2026

Staff also farms about 1,500 acres of row crop, like corn and sorghum sudan, and small grains, like wheat and oats. —Lana Ferguson, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026

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