cornflakes: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral; common in everyday informal and semi-formal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “cornflakes” mean?
A breakfast cereal consisting of small toasted flakes made from maize (corn), typically eaten with milk, yogurt, or fruit.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A breakfast cereal consisting of small toasted flakes made from maize (corn), typically eaten with milk, yogurt, or fruit.
1. A metonym for a quick, simple, or mundane breakfast. 2. (Slang, rare) Something considered boring, plain, or lacking excitement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The term is equally common. The product is a staple in both markets.
Connotations
In both varieties, it strongly connotes a traditional, simple, sometimes nostalgic breakfast. Can imply a lack of culinary effort or imagination.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “cornflakes” in a Sentence
[SUBJ] eat/have cornflakes [for breakfast][SUBJ] pour cornflakes [into a bowl]cornflakes [with milk/fruit]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cornflakes” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He cornflakes every morning without fail. (Non-standard, humorous/rare)
American English
- I'm just going to cornflake it for breakfast. (Non-standard, humorous/rare)
adjective
British English
- He has a cornflakes personality—reliable but bland. (Figurative, informal)
American English
- It was a cornflakes kind of morning, nothing special. (Figurative, informal)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In marketing, production, and retail contexts (e.g., 'cornflakes sales surged').
Academic
Rare, except in historical or cultural studies of food (e.g., 'The invention of cornflakes and the health movement').
Everyday
Extremely common in domestic and casual conversation about breakfast.
Technical
In food science or manufacturing (e.g., 'the extrusion process for cornflakes').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cornflakes”
- Incorrect: 'a cornflake' (when meaning the food in general). Correct: 'some cornflakes' or 'a bowl of cornflakes'.
- Incorrect: 'cornflakes with sugar' (common non-native phrasing). Native phrasing: 'cornflakes with milk' or 'sugar on your cornflakes?'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is usually treated as an uncountable mass noun (e.g., 'I eat cornflakes'). You can count 'a flake' but not typically 'a cornflake' in the context of food. The plural form 'cornflakes' is standard for referring to the cereal.
'Cornflakes' are plain, toasted maize flakes. 'Frosted Flakes' (known as 'Frosties' in the UK) is a specific brand of sugar-coated cornflakes, often featuring a mascot like Tony the Tiger.
Yes, crushed cornflakes are often used as a crispy coating for baked or fried foods like chicken tenders or fish fillets, providing a lighter texture than breadcrumbs.
When capitalised, it usually refers specifically to the Kellogg's brand product 'Kellogg's Corn Flakes'. In lower case, 'cornflakes' is the generic term for that type of cereal.
A breakfast cereal consisting of small toasted flakes made from maize (corn), typically eaten with milk, yogurt, or fruit.
Cornflakes is usually neutral; common in everyday informal and semi-formal contexts. in register.
Cornflakes: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːn.fleɪks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːrn.fleɪks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'He's about as exciting as a bowl of cornflakes' (idiomatic, implying extreme dullness).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CORN' (the grain) that is flattened into 'FLAKES' for breakfast.
Conceptual Metaphor
SIMPLICITY/PLAINNESS IS CORNFLAKES (e.g., 'Their relationship was comfortable but a bit cornflakes').
Practice
Quiz
In figurative slang, describing a person as 'cornflakes' suggests they are: