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Definition of garam masala

garam masala

Plural:garam masalas
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• noun

1

A traditional blend of ground, aromatic spices widely used in Indian and other South Asian cuisines, typically including cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, cumin, coriander, and black pepper.

Example

"She stirred a teaspoon of garam masala into the simmering lentil stew right before serving to elevate its aroma."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for garam masala

Word Nuance & Usage

Although 'garam' literally translates to 'hot', garam masala is typically characterized by warming, aromatic spices like cinnamon and cloves rather than the fiery heat of chili powders.

• Nearby Words

gappy
gar
garage
garam masala
garb
garbage
garbageman

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Garam masala. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/garam-masala
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