gelatin

noun

gel·​a·​tin ˈje-lə-tən 

variants or less commonly gelatine

1

: glutinous material obtained from animal tissues by boiling

especially : a colloidal protein used as a food, in photography, and in medicine

2

a

: any of various substances (such as agar) resembling gelatin

b

: an edible jelly made with gelatin

3

: gel sense 2

Examples of gelatin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

People bitten by ticks can develop IgE antibodies against alpha-gal, which can sometimes trigger an allergic response to eating red meat as well as other animal products, such as dairy and gelatin. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2026

The recipe leans on instant pudding mix and strawberry gelatin to keep things extra effortless. — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 5 July 2026

In some people, that triggers an allergic reaction to red meat as well as meat byproducts like gelatin. — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 2 July 2026

Other supplements come in gelatin capsules, made from collagen derived from cow and pig bones and hides, or mixed with dairy binders such as lactose and sodium caseinate. — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French gélatine edible jelly, gelatin, from Italian gelatina, from gelato, past participle of gelare to freeze, from Latin — more at cold

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gelatin

• skeleton
• cytoskeleton
• exoskeleton

Kids Definition

gelatin

noun

gel·​a·​tin

variants also gelatine

ˈjel-ət-ᵊn 

1

: gummy or sticky protein obtained by boiling animal tissues and used as food, in photography, and in medicine

2

: an edible jelly formed with gelatin

3

: a thin colored transparent sheet used to color a stage light

Medical Definition

gelatin

noun

gel·​a·​tin

variants also gelatine

ˈjel-ət-ən 

1

: glutinous material obtained from animal tissues by boiling

especially : a colloidal protein used as a food, in photography, and in medicine

2

a

: any of various substances (as agar) resembling gelatin

b

: an edible jelly made with gelatin