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Definition of clam chowder

clam chowder

Plural:clam chowders
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• noun

1

North American A thick soup or stew made with clams, diced potatoes, onions, and often salt pork or bacon, typically featuring either a cream or tomato base.

Example

"While visiting a coastal town in Massachusetts, we ordered bowls of traditional New England clam chowder served with oyster crackers."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for clam chowder

Word Nuance & Usage

In American culinary contexts, the term typically refers to two major regional variations: New England clam chowder, which is thick and cream-based, and Manhattan clam chowder, which features a clearer, tomato-based broth.

• Nearby Words

cladoceran
clafoutis
clam
clam chowder
clamp
clamshell
clamshell falls

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Clam chowder. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/clam%20chowder
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