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confectioners' sugar

American  
[kuhn-fek-shuh-nerz shoog-er] / kənˈfɛk ʃə nərz ˈʃʊg ər /

noun

  1. an extra-fine variety of powdered sugar, with cornstarch added to preserve dryness, used in icings, confections, etc.: it is graded from XXX to 14X, with a higher number of X’s corresponding to a more finely ground product.


confectioners' sugar British  

noun

  1. the US term for icing sugar

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of confectioners' sugar

First recorded in 1890–95


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

One of the recurring tropes in “The Things We Never Say” is of a younger Artie spying his sister Maria eating confectioners’ sugar.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2026

Serve them with a quick homemade blueberry syrup, regular maple syrup or loads of melted butter and confectioners’ sugar so their lightly sweet citrus flavor can really shine.

From New York Times ● Jun. 17, 2023

Dust lightly with confectioners’ sugar and serve with a generous helping of preserves and Devonshire clotted cream or whipped cream.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 14, 2023

If you’d like a thicker glaze, add more confectioners’ sugar.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 27, 2022

Each is dusted with confectioners’ sugar and topped by a dollop of whipped cream.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

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