caramel

American  

[kar-uh-muhl, -mel, kahr-muhl] / ˈkær ə məl, -ˌmɛl, ˈkɑr məl /

noun

1. a liquid made by cooking sugar until it changes color, used for coloring and flavoring food.

2. a kind of chewy candy, commonly in small blocks, made from sugar, butter, milk, etc.

3. a yellowish brown or tan color.

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caramel British  

/ ˈkærəməl, -ˌmɛl /

noun

1. burnt sugar, used for colouring and flavouring food

2. a chewy sweet made from sugar, butter, milk, etc

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Usage

What is caramel? Caramel is a liquid made by heating sugar until it changes to a brownish color. Caramel is used for coloring or flavoring food. Caramel is often used as a flavoring or sauce for a variety of foods, especially desserts, such as caramel ice cream and caramel-coated popcorn. The word caramel can also refer to a chewy candy made from the heated sugar, milk, butter, and other ingredients. It’s often shaped into cubes and is sometimes covered in chocolate, which you might find in a box of Valentine’s Day chocolates. Finally, caramel can refer to a tan or yellowish-brown color that resembles the color of the sugary liquid, as in The cat had a caramel-colored tail. Example: My favorite candy is a chocolate bar filled with caramel.

Etymology

Origin of caramel

First recorded in 1715–25; from French, from Spanish or Portuguese caramelo, from Late Latin calamellus “little reed” (by dissimilation), equivalent to calam(us) reed ( see calamus) + -ellus diminutive suffix; meaning changed by association with Medieval Latin cannamella, canna mellis, etc., “sugarcane,” equivalent to Latin canna cane + mel “honey” (genitive mellis )

Compare meaning

How does caramel compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• toffee vs. caramel

Explanation

Caramel is a sticky or runny sweet that's made from slightly burnt sugar. You might prefer your vanilla ice cream topped with caramel. Caramel can be used in many ways — to flavor foods, pour on top of desserts, or form into a soft, chewy candy. You can also use the word to describe the milky brown color itself: "She's the one with the long, caramel colored hair." In French, caramel means "burnt sugar," which comes from the Latin cannamellis, a combination of canna, "cane," and mel, "honey."

Example Sentences

I was also tempted by the salted date caramel matcha, which may be reason enough for a return trip.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026

This kind of caramel is often used in baked goods and ice cream.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

There’s also République, the French-inspired bakery and cafe known for its salted caramel chocolate cake.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

At M&S varieties now include red velvet, lemon curd, tiramisu, caramel fudge, chocolate, cheese and apple incarnations.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Owen’s mom’s brownies were legendary among the kids in town, made with caramel, nuts, and crushed pretzels.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

• carbohydrate