: a tall annual cereal grass (Zea mays) originally domesticated in Mexico and widely grown for its large elongated ears of starchy seeds : corn entry 1 sense 4
Along with maize, their main food, the ancient Maya planted squash, beans, peppers, cacao, and other plants, all of which they used for food or medicinal purposes.Evelyn Dana Feld
But evidence has been elusive, because the standard macrofossils—say, squash rinds or maize kernels—quickly rot in the sultry climate.Kathryn Brown

Examples of maize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Across Europe, heat and water shortages have damaged maize, soybean and sunflower crops, with some harvest forecasts falling 14% below recent averages. Shooka Bidarian, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Their accomplishments fueled Max’s desire to wear the maize and blue. Alec Lewis, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, global food prices reached historic highs, and China was temporarily denied access to exports from Ukraine, a top maize supplier to China in recent years. Caitlin Welsh, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026 For example, in Kenya, maize prices are 9% higher than this time last year, and in the Philippines, rice prices have increased 18%. Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for maize

Word History

Etymology

Spanish maíz, from Taino mahiz

First Known Use

circa 1544, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of maize was circa 1544

Cite this Entry

“Maize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maize. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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