tortilla

noun

tor·​ti·​lla tȯr-ˈtē-yə How to pronounce tortilla (audio)
: a thin round of unleavened cornmeal or wheat flour bread usually eaten hot with a topping or filling (as of ground meat or cheese)

Examples of tortilla 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.
Ladybird Taco started with a breakfast craving, a homemade tortilla and a chance encounter that changed everything. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026 Serve in warm corn tortillas, over shredded lettuce, alongside black beans, or topped with guacamole, salsa, or pico de gallo. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 But crisp tortilla layers arrived smothered with vegan cheddar and fresh, vine-ripe tomatoes. — Amanda Eyre Ward, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026 For nearly a decade, the shop has been selling homemade Sonoran-style flour tortillas, stone-ground corn tortillas and other Mexican pantry staples to customers in Kansas City and beyond. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tortilla

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from American Spanish (Mexico, Central America, parts of the Caribbean and South America), from Spanish, diminutive of torta "cake, pastry," going back to Late Latin tōrta "round loaf of bread" — more at tart entry 2

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tortilla was in 1648

Phrases Containing tortilla

Rhymes for tortilla

See All Rhymes for tortilla

Browse Nearby Words

tortile
tortilla
tortilla chip
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tortilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tortilla. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tortilla

noun
tor·​ti·​lla tȯr-ˈtē-(y)ə How to pronounce tortilla (audio)
: a thin round of unleavened cornmeal or wheat flour bread
Etymology

American Spanish, literally "little cake," from Spanish torta "cake"

More from Merriam-Webster on tortilla

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tortilla

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