marshmallow

[mahrsh-mel-oh, -mal-oh]

noun

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.

marshmallow

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• marshmallowy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of marshmallow¹

First recorded in 1905–10; marsh mallow

Example Sentences

The chocolate-coated marshmallows at one stall impress Till, who is from a town near Frankfurt.

Read more on BBC

You want your marshmallows to be as small as possible to make sure they get properly melted and toasted and everyone gets some of those sugary pillows in their serving.

Read more on Salon

I begrudgingly rise from my marshmallow chair and dart around the room, pulling comic books and toiletries into my suitcase like a speed-packing vortex.

Read more on Literature

Princesses of even the most delicate sensibilities have been known to enjoy a rugged camping trip, with melted marshmallows and spooky tales told ’round the fire.

Read more on Literature

Fluffy white marshmallows were skewered onto the ends of sticks and then roasted above the flames.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.