mouthfeel

noun

mouth·​feel ˈmau̇th-ˌfēl How to pronounce mouthfeel (audio)
: the sensation created by food or drink in the mouth

Did you know?

Do you sometimes find yourself trying to describe a concept or phenomenon for which you don't have a word? In such cases, it is not unusual for people to coin neologisms (new words or expressions) to describe such concepts or phenomena - the pink glow on the underside of gray clouds right before sunset, for example, or the sensation created in the mouth by a particular item of food or drink. Indeed, this latter concept has already been given a name, "mouthfeel," a simple combination of "mouth" and "feel" that can be used to describe the creamy warmth of a mushroom soup or the dry, velvety sensation of a pinot noir. This coinage is relatively new; its earliest known use dates back only to 1951.

Examples of mouthfeel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Soft tannins and voluptuous mouthfeel pave the way for flavors of ripe red plum, red raspberry, and dried Bing cherry. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024 Cells grown in a tank function essentially like ground meat, imparting a meaty flavor and mouthfeel to whatever they are added to, behaving more like an ingredient or a seasoning than a food product. Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024 There is a silky mouthfeel and a typical nose of Pinot of leather and forest floor. Per and Britt Karlsson, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 This pressure extracts flavor from the chicken and vegetables much more rapidly, and quickly converts collagen-rich connective tissue into gelatin, which gives the broth more body and a nice mouthfeel. Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 14 Jan. 2024 An egg white makes an impressive fluffy topping, adding a creamy mouthfeel to the drink and smoothing out the flavors. Sonja and Alex Overhiser, Washington Post, 12 Feb. 2024 The wine is aged almost exclusively in stainless steel, to preserve all that terroir, so there’s bright lemon blossom and almond on the nose, with a rich mouthfeel redolent of peaches, followed by a long toasty finish. Jeanne O'Brien Coffey, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 The mouthfeel is thinner than the others, which is nice. Gary Dzen, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023 Offering beautiful mouthfeel, luxurious tannins, and lively acidity, its combination of red and black berry flavors leaves you longing for another sip. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 23 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mouthfeel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mouthfeel was in 1951

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Cite this Entry

“Mouthfeel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mouthfeel. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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