marshmallow

American  

[mahrsh-mel-oh, -mal-oh] / ˈmɑrʃˌmɛl oʊ, -ˌmæl oʊ /

noun

marshmallows plural

1. a sweetened paste or confection made from the mucilaginous root of the marsh mallow.

2. a similar confection, usually soft and spongy, made from gum arabic or gelatin, sugar, corn syrup, and flavoring.

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marshmallow British  

/ ˌmɑːʃˈmæləʊ /

noun

1. a sweet of a spongy texture containing gum arabic or gelatine, sugar, etc

2. a sweetened paste or confection made from the root of the marsh mallow

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Usage

What is the Marshmallow Test? The Marshmallow Test is a famous psychological test performed on young children in the 1960s linking delayed gratification (a treat right now … or two later?) to success later in life. A 2018 replication notably concluded, though, that socioeconomic background significantly influenced the ability of children to delay their gratification. So the test was biased.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• marshmallowy
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• marshmallows
  plural

Etymology

Origin of marshmallow

First recorded in 1905–10; see origin at marsh mallow

Explanation

A marshmallow is a sweet, soft treat. Marshmallows are sometimes melted and turned into a sugary topping for ice cream or a filling for baked goods. Marshmallows are made of gelatin and sugar, with a dusty powdered sugar surface, and they squish like a sponge when you squeeze or bite down on them. Marshmallows can be toasted over a fire to turn them slightly crisp on the outside and melty within, and sandwiched between graham crackers with chocolate to make a "s'more." The original 19th century marshmallows were made from a plant called mersc-mealwe (marsh mallow plant) in Old English.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

marshmallow marshmallows

Then there’s bruising running back Mark Fletcher Jr., who runs through 300-pound defenders as if they were made of marshmallow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 2026

Charities have warned of a growing trade in wild animals across Scotland after a monkey was discovered in a bird cage in East Lothian with a marshmallow addiction.

From BBC ● May 1, 2025

Wilcox got Frosty — a chunky goat the color of a softly toasted marshmallow — in 2021 when he lived in Northern California.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2024

But even his nonsensical marshmallow responses to her didn’t matter.

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2024

There were never any potato chips tucked into his food vaults, no chocolate bars or marshmallow figurines.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Officials said that several children outside in a patio area were roasting marshmallows on a device called Flikr Fire, a tabletop fireplace kit that uses rubbing alcohol for fuel and was recalled in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

What would summer on the beach be without chocolate and marshmallows between graham crackers—or without angst and wish fulfillment between book covers?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

It's all the fun of camping - sleeping under the stars, waking up to beautiful views and toasting marshmallows round an open fire - but with creature comforts.

From BBC ● May 8, 2026

But one who orders up quality stocks might be served a choice of two ETFs as far apart as mashed potatoes and marshmallows.

From Barron's ● Dec. 26, 2025

“I think all those marshmallows are finally having an impact.”

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

Related Words

• amiable
• cordial
• even-tempered
• friendly
• good-hearted
• good-humored
• gracious