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Definition of ragu

ragu

/rɑːˈɡuː/
ra · gu
Plural:ragus
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ragu Lexical Profile

ragu Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A slow-cooked, meat-based Italian sauce typically served with pasta.

Example

"She simmered the rich beef and pork ragu for four hours before serving it over fresh pappardelle."

2

Any hearty, well-seasoned meat or vegetable sauce cooked over low heat.

Example

"The chef prepared a robust mushroom ragu as a vegetarian alternative for the main course."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for ragu

Word Nuance & Usage

Often confused with Bolognese; while Bolognese is a specific type of ragu originating from Bologna, a ragu refers more broadly to any hearty, slow-cooked meat or vegetable sauce.

• Rhymes for ragu

• Nearby Words

ragtag
ragtime
ragtop
ragu
ragweed
ragwort
rah

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Italian 'ragù', which itself derives from the French 'ragoût' (stew), from the verb 'ragoûter', meaning 'to revive the taste' or 'to stimulate the appetite'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ragu. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ragu
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