cornflakes

American  

[kawrn-fleyks] / ˈkɔrnˌfleɪks /

Or corn flakes

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. a packaged breakfast cereal in the form of small toasted flakes made from corn, for serving cold with milk, sugar, etc.

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cornflakes British  

/ ˈkɔːnˌfleɪks /

plural noun

1. a breakfast cereal made from toasted maize, eaten with milk, sugar, etc

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Etymology

Origin of cornflakes

1905–10, corn ¹ + flakes, plural of flake ¹

Example Sentences

The popularity of the hermit crab as a pet soared in the 1970s, when one company branded them “Crazy Crabs” and told buyers they would eat anything: pizza, cookies, cornflakes!

From Slate • Aug. 19, 2025

The beverage and humble ingredient is made by lightly toasting 2 3/4 cups of cornflakes and steeping it in 3 3/4 cups of cold milk for 20 minutes.

From Salon • Jun. 22, 2025

When I mentioned it recently to my mother, she said, “Oh, well. Time for a break then. Otherwise it’s like eating the same bowl of cornflakes every day for 19 years.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2025

Quickly “sheet” the butter with your fingertips until they are the shape and thickness of cornflakes.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 15, 2023

In the end I bought a small carton of milk and a box of cornflakes.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri