marshmallow

noun

marsh·​mal·​low ˈmärsh-ˌme-lō How to pronounce marshmallow (audio)
-ˌma-
1
usually marsh mallow : a pink-flowered European perennial herb (Althaea officinalis) of the mallow family that is naturalized in the eastern U.S. and has flowers, leaves, and roots used in herbal remedies
2
: a sweet white confection usually in the form of a spread or small spongy cylindrical pieces now usually made from corn syrup, sugar, albumen, and gelatin but formerly from the marshmallow's root
also : one of these spongy pieces
toasted marshmallows on sticks over a campfire
marshmallowy
ˈmärsh-ˌme-lə-wē How to pronounce marshmallow (audio)
-ˌma-
adjective

Examples of marshmallow in a Sentence

We toasted marshmallows over the fire.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are pickle card games, hair clips, socks, air fresheners, and tote bags; marshmallows, sunflower seeds, cotton candy, and lollipops. — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2026 To give the marshmallows a golden toast indoors, use a small culinary torch or indoor electric tabletop s’mores maker. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Aug. 2026 Food and drink Breakfast here is enough to tempt you out of the hotel’s marshmallow-soft beds, even after a long night of dancing. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026 Our teenage sons, in a moment of joyous regression, insisted on roasting marshmallows. — Dinaw Mengestu, Travel + Leisure, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for marshmallow

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of marshmallow was before the 12th century

Rhymes for marshmallow

See All Rhymes for marshmallow

Browse Nearby Words

marshlocks
marshmallow
marshmallowy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Marshmallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marshmallow. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

marshmallow

noun
marsh·​mal·​low ˈmärsh-ˌmel-ō How to pronounce marshmallow (audio)
-ˌmal-
1
: a pink-flowered herb related to the mallows that has a root sometimes used in sweets and in medicine
2
: a soft spongy sweet formerly made from the root of the marshmallow but now usually prepared from corn syrup, sugar, albumen, and gelatin

Medical Definition

marshmallow

noun
marsh·​mal·​low ˈmärsh-ˌmel-ō, -ˌmel-ə(-w), -ˌmal- How to pronounce marshmallow (audio)
variants or marsh mallow
: a European perennial herb of the genus Althaea (A. officinalis) naturalized in the eastern United States whose pink flowers, velvety leaves, and mucilaginous root are used in herbal medicine and whose root was formerly used in confectionary see althaea sense 2

More from Merriam-Webster on marshmallow

Nglish: Translation of marshmallow for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about marshmallow

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