marmalade

noun

mar·​ma·​lade ˈmär-mə-ˌlād 

: a clear sweetened jelly in which pieces of fruit and fruit rind are suspended

Examples of marmalade in a Sentence

a jar of orange marmalade

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, the restaurant's breakfast contains the most delicious marmalade outside the British Isles. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026

The liquid is brimming with marmalade and tobacco spice—elements that are elongated when sipped slowly at room temperature. —Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026

According to information in the archives at the JFK Library, Kennedy reportedly started his days with OJ, coffee, poached eggs, bacon, toast, and marmalade. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2026

Making Your Own Marmalade Beyond buying an old-school British marmalade or a new wave small-batch version, why not try making your own? —Amy Sherman, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English marmelat quince conserve, Portuguese marmelada, from marmelo quince, from Latin melimelum, a sweet apple, from Greek melimēlon, from meli honey + mēlon apple — more at mellifluous

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for marmalade

• accolade
• ambuscade
• antegrade
• balustrade
• barricade
• cannonade
• cavalcade
• centigrade
• chambermaid
• colonnade
• countertrade
• disobeyed

Kids Definition

marmalade

noun

mar·​ma·​lade ˈmär-mə-ˌlād 

: a clear jelly containing pieces of fruit and fruit rind

orange marmalade

Etymology

from Portuguese marmelada "jelly made from quince," from marmelo "quince," from Latin melimelum "sweet apple," from Greek melimēlon (same meaning), from meli "honey" and mēlon "apple"

Word Origin

Many of us have eaten orange marmalade, but marmalade can be made from any of several fruits. The Portuguese made such a jelly from the quince, a fruit that looks a bit like a yellow apple. The Portuguese word for the quince is marmelo, which is based on the Latin word melimelum, meaning "a sweet apple." The Portuguese called the jelly they made from the quince marmelada. English borrowed this word as marmalade.