sloppy joe
noun
slop·py joe
ˈslä-pē-ˈjō 
1
often capitalized S&J
: a loose-fitting sweater especially for girls
2
: ground beef cooked in a thick spicy sauce and usually served on a bun
Examples of sloppy joe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Picadillo, a main course usually made with ground beef, tomatoes, olives and capers, could be described as a sloppy joe with a Spanish accent.
—
Faye Levy, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
To further divorce the meat from its natural state, the chefs presented it in familiar guises: sloppy joes (by the Beach Rats), tacos (the Swamp Rats), and nutria and waffles (the brothers Duck and Deano).
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
The sloppy joe is an unsung icon of Americana cooking, several rungs down the ladder of respectability from its more celebrated quick-serve cousins, such as the hamburger and the chili dog.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2025
Get searing with tallow: 43 Ground Beef Recipes for Hearty Family Meals
Switch up your routine with gochujang sloppy joes, herby sheet-pan meatballs, a Dominican take on lasagna, and more.
—Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloppy joe
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Faye Levy, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
To further divorce the meat from its natural state, the chefs presented it in familiar guises: sloppy joes (by the Beach Rats), tacos (the Swamp Rats), and nutria and waffles (the brothers Duck and Deano).
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
The sloppy joe is an unsung icon of Americana cooking, several rungs down the ladder of respectability from its more celebrated quick-serve cousins, such as the hamburger and the chili dog.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2025
Get searing with tallow: 43 Ground Beef Recipes for Hearty Family Meals
Switch up your routine with gochujang sloppy joes, herby sheet-pan meatballs, a Dominican take on lasagna, and more.
—Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloppy joe
Cite this Entry
“Sloppy joe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sloppy%20joe. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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