mortadella

American  

[mawr-tuh-del-uh] / ˌmɔr təˈdɛl ə /

noun

1. a large Italian sausage of pork, beef, and pork fat chopped fine, seasoned with garlic and pepper, cooked, and smoked.

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Etymology

Origin of mortadella

1605–15; < Italian < Latin murtāt ( um ) sausage seasoned with myrtle ( murt ( um ) myrtle-berry + -ātum, neuter of -ātus -ate ¹ ) + -ella diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

Roast turkey and mortadella, vegan salami and imitation tuna salad.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2025

Favorite grinder meats in our house include sopresetta, ham, prosciutto, mortadella and various types of salami.

From Washington Times • Sep. 21, 2023

Synthetic foods, government ministers argued, would undermine Italian food traditions, threatening mortadella, pancetta and guanciale.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2023

Those that are able make another payment of roughly the same amount can get chicken or mortadella from trucks that show up in neighborhoods from time to time.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 5, 2023

One of these the Senator visited, note-book in hand, and was shown with great alacrity every variety of mortadella, from delicacies the size of a finger to mottled conceptions as thick as a small barrel.

From A Voyage of Consolation (being in the nature of a sequel to the experiences of 'An American girl in London') by Duncan, Sara Jeannette