gelatin

American  

[jel-uh-tn] / ˈdʒɛl ə tn /

Or gelatine

noun

• gelatins
  plural

1. a nearly transparent, faintly yellow, odorless, and almost tasteless glutinous substance obtained by boiling in water the ligaments, bones, skin, etc., of animals, and forming the basis of jellies, glues, and the like.

2. any of various similar substances, as vegetable gelatin.

3. a preparation or product in which such an animal or vegetable substance is the essential constituent.

4. an edible jelly made of this substance.

5. Also called gelatin slide. Theater. a thin sheet made of translucent gelatin colored with an aniline dye, placed over stage lights, and used as a color medium in obtaining lighting effects.

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gelatin Scientific  

/ jĕl′ə-tn /

1. An odorless, colorless protein substance obtained by boiling a mixture of water and the skin, bones, and tendons of animals. The preparation forms a gel when allowed to cool. It is used in foods, drugs, glue, and film.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• gelatins
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gelatin

1790–1800; < French gélatine < Medieval Latin gelātina, equivalent to Latin gelāt ( us ) frozen, thickened, past participle of gelāre ( gel- freeze + -ātus -ate ¹ ) + -ina -in ²

Explanation

Gelatin is an edible thickener that's made from finely ground animal bones and tissue. It's gelatin that gives marshmallows and Jell-o their thick, gummy texture. While you're probably familiar with gelatin in gummy bears, candy corn, and other sweets, it's also commonly used in foods like cream cheese, low fat yogurt, and some Chinese dumplings. There are non-food uses for gelatin as well, including glue, medicine, sandpaper, and makeup. Gelatin isn't vegetarian — it's made from animal parts, including bones and connective tissue. Gelatin comes from the French gélatine, "jelly-like substance from animals," and its Latin root meaning "to congeal."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gelatin gelatins

My medicine cabinet became a minefield of animal-derived byproducts, including gelatin capsules and pain meds with lactose.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

Some cosmetics, medicines and supplements contain gelatin, animal fats, alcohol or other ingredients whose origins matter to observant consumers.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026

Since MMA can rear its head unexpectedly, these people could still react to medical treatment, van Nunen explains, because many drugs include products derived from animals, such as vaccines that contain gelatin.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

Because they arrive fully trimmed, they can go straight into a low, slow smoke or a gentle braise, where the collagen breaks down into gelatin and the meat becomes tender enough to shred.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

Stuff like xanthan gum, which is made from bacteria; Carbopol, which is an acrylic polymer like house paint; and gelatin, which is made from cow cartilage.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

It is a mix of sugar, corn syrup, gelatins, gums, colorings and flavorings that include chocolate, licorice, cinnamon, lemon, lime, orange, wintergreen and clove.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 24, 2018

The modern winemaker has access to a vast armamentarium of interventions, from supercharged lab-grown yeast, to antimicrobials, antioxidants, acidity regulators and filtering gelatins, all the way up to industrial machines.

From The Guardian ● May 15, 2018

Hans Riegel, a second-generation German confectioner who helped bring the bear-shaped, fruit-flavored gelatins known as gummi bears to candy lovers all over the world, died Oct.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 16, 2013

Cyclamates are also used in puddings, gelatins, salad dressings, jams and jellies, ice cream and practically all diet foods.

From Time Magazine Archive

Glues and gelatins merge into one another by imperceptible degrees.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 2 "Gloss" to "Gordon, Charles George" by Various

Related Words

• jelly
• marmalade