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Definition of muffuletta

muffuletta

/ˌmʌf.əˈlɛt.ə/
muf · fu · let · ta

Plural:muffulettas
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muffuletta Lexical Profile

muffuletta Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American A large, round, somewhat flattened sandwich native to New Orleans, made with a split loaf of Sicilian sesame bread stuffed with layers of marinated olive salad, salami, ham, mortadella, and provolone cheese.

Example

"For lunch in the French Quarter, we shared a massive muffuletta that was overflowing with tangy olive salad and cured meats."


2

The type of soft, round Sicilian sesame bread traditionally used to make a muffuletta sandwich.

Example

"The baker pulled a tray of freshly baked muffulettas from the oven, their sesame-crusted tops glistening."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for muffuletta

Word Nuance & Usage

Frequently spelled 'muffaletta'. While the term originally described only the bread, modern American usage almost exclusively refers to the sandwich as a whole.

• Rhymes for muffuletta

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Sicilian 'muffuletta', a diminutive form of 'muffula' (muff or sponge), originally referring to the soft, round sesame bread brought to New Orleans by Sicilian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Muffuletta. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/muffuletta
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