molasses

American  

[muh-las-iz] / məˈlæs ɪz /

noun

1. a thick syrup produced during the refining of sugar or from sorghum, varying from light to dark brown in color.

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molasses British  

/ məˈlæsɪz /

noun

1. the thick brown uncrystallized bitter syrup obtained from sugar during refining

2. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): treacle.  a dark viscous syrup obtained during the refining of sugar

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Etymology

Origin of molasses

1575–85; earlier molassos, molasso ( e ) s < Portuguese melaços, plural of melaço (< Late Latin mellācium half-boiled new wine, for *mellāceum, neuter of *mellāceus honeylike, equivalent to mell-, stem of mel honey + -āceus -aceous )

Example Sentences

Add unexpected flavors like ginger, sesame oil, yuzu or even pomegranate molasses.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2025

Rum is typically made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses, the thick treacle-like substance leftover after refined sugar has been produced from the harvested plants.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2025

As a child, I loved eating ribs doused in sweet tangy KC BBQ sauce made with molasses, acidic vinegar and spicy chili powder alongside my cousins.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2024

These dishes capture my love for flavors like saffron, pomegranate molasses, turmeric, Omani lemons and fresh herbs.

From Salon • Sep. 15, 2024

According to most estimates, by the mid-1770s, the average American colonist consumed more than three quarts of molasses a year—making it an irreplaceable part of the colonial economy.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler

Related Words

• maple syrup