chewing gum

American  

[choo-ing] / ˈtʃu ɪŋ /

noun

1. a sweetened and flavored preparation for chewing, usually made of chicle.

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chewing gum British  

noun

1. a preparation for chewing, usually made of flavoured and sweetened chicle or such substitutes as polyvinyl acetate

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Etymology

Origin of chewing gum

An Americanism dating back to 1755–65

Example Sentences

Once whispers began that Farage was outside, the over-the-top pat-downs and confiscated chewing gum suddenly made sense.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

The gum base that makes up about 15% to 30% of a typical piece of chewing gum is often petroleum-derived, academic studies show.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

They have allowed Mars to design a thinner-walled bottle for its Extra brand chewing gum that reduced development time by 40% and saved 246 tons of plastic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 24, 2026

He sat through countless commission meetings, handed out chewing gum and kept things moving.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025

The zebra’s mane was matted with chewing gum, like somebody had been spitting on it in their spare time.

From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan