marshmallow

American  

[mahrsh-mel-oh, -mal-oh] / ˈmɑrʃˌmɛl oʊ, -ˌmæl oʊ /

noun

• marshmallows
  plural

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.

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marshmallow British  

/ 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

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• marshmallowy
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• marshmallows
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of marshmallow

First recorded in 1905–10; see origin at marsh mallow

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Explanation

A marshmallow is a sweet, soft treat. Marshmallows are sometimes melted and turned into a sugary topping for ice cream or a filling for baked goods. Marshmallows are made of gelatin and sugar, with a dusty powdered sugar surface, and they squish like a sponge when you squeeze or bite down on them. Marshmallows can be toasted over a fire to turn them slightly crisp on the outside and melty within, and sandwiched between graham crackers with chocolate to make a "s'more." The original 19th century marshmallows were made from a plant called mersc-mealwe (marsh mallow plant) in Old English.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

marshmallow marshmallows

The floor also highlights science at the White House, including an “extreme marshmallow cannon” brought there by a 14-year-old inventor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026

Charities have warned of a growing trade in wild animals across Scotland after a monkey was discovered in a bird cage in East Lothian with a marshmallow addiction.

From BBC ● May 1, 2025

Wilcox got Frosty — a chunky goat the color of a softly toasted marshmallow — in 2021 when he lived in Northern California.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2024

Then the color turns brown, in the same way that a white marshmallow turns brown near the heat of a campfire.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 24, 2024

His marshmallow heart had grown a row of teeth.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

He’s just some mud-brown monstrosity roaming the Vale of Arryn and treating livestock like campfire marshmallows.

From Salon ● Jun. 24, 2026

What would summer on the beach be without chocolate and marshmallows between graham crackers—or without angst and wish fulfillment between book covers?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

It's all the fun of camping - sleeping under the stars, waking up to beautiful views and toasting marshmallows round an open fire - but with creature comforts.

From BBC ● May 8, 2026

To make them, cafes melt marshmallows to create a chewy outer layer mixed with chocolate, then fill individual portions with pistachio cream and kadaif before dusting the top with cocoa powder.

From Barron's ● Jan. 20, 2026

A soldier with crammed cheeks pushed past Turner with a box of pink and white marshmallows.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

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