whole grain

noun

plural whole grains

: an unmilled grain (such as wheat, rice, or barley) having its bran, germ, and endosperm intact

Start with a whole grain, such as brown rice, millet, or whole wheat.

—Cynthia Lair

Fill half your plate with a variety of vegetables and fruit. Add 20 to 30 grams of protein as well as carbs like sweet potatoes, quinoa, beans and whole grains.

—Emily Marrison

also : a grain that has been ground or processed but not hulled or refined

Processed whole grains are whole grains that have been cracked (as in cracked wheat bread), rolled (as in rolled oat cereal), crushed or ground (as in whole-wheat flour and bulgur) or extruded (as in whole-wheat pasta). They provide the same nutrients found in the original kernel of grain.

—Anastasia Schepers

Whole-grain flours have a more complex taste and create a heartier texture than refined white flours because they include the bran and germ.

—Chicago Sun-Times

Examples of whole grain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cooking with a variety of whole grains adds both flavor and health benefits to your diet. —Caitlin Beale, Health, 5 June 2026

These include fruits, vegetables and whole grains. —Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 4 June 2026

Those nutrients often come from fresh and diverse fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy oils. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 3 June 2026

Oetzi and these Bronze Age salt miners ate more fiber and whole grain than modern-day people, Sarhan explained. —CBS News, 3 June 2026

Eat legumes or vegetables with either whole grains or nuts and seeds. —Ashley Olivine, Verywell Health, 3 June 2026

At mealtime, this might look like filling two-thirds of your plate with whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds. —Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026

Incorporating fruits, vegetables and whole grains often have a broader positive impact on the body. —Ari Daniel, NPR, 1 June 2026

Think fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, and whole grains. —Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 30 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for whole grain

• aeroplane
• appertain
• ascertain
• capitaine
• cassegrain
• cellophane
• chatelaine
• counterpane
• entertain
• halothane
• hurricane
• hyperplane