caramel

noun

car·​a·​mel ˈkär-məl  ˈker-ə-məl 

ˈka-rə-,

-ˌmel

1

: a usually firm to brittle, golden-brown to dark brown substance that has a sweet, nutty, buttery, or bitter flavor, is obtained by heating sugar at high temperature, and used especially as a coloring and flavoring agent

Caramel is an ingredient in many candies.

2

: a firm, chewy, usually caramel-flavored candy made with sugar, cream, corn syrup, and butter

a bag of caramels

Examples of caramel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The finish is long and sweet, with lingering caramel and subtle vanilla notes. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025

Examples of the phenomenon includes caramel and honey bronde, which can be created using part Just Like Honey, part White Heat, and part Instant Coffee. —Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 22 May 2025

Gourmet cupcake flavors include cookies & cream, strawberry shortcake, strawberry explosion, red velvet, and chocolate caramel brownie. —Pamela Brown, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2025

It’s then topped with cream cheese frosting and drizzled with caramel sauce, a product description says. —Tanasia Kenney, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Spanish caramelo, from Portuguese, icicle, caramel, from Late Latin calamellus small reed — more at shawm

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing caramel

• crème caramel

Kids Definition

caramel

noun

car·​a·​mel ˈkär-məl  ˈkar-ə-məl 

-ˌmel

1

: burnt sugar used for coloring and flavoring

2

: a firm chewy candy

Medical Definition

caramel

noun

car·​a·​mel ˈkar-ə-məl  -ˌmel; ˈkär-məl 

: an amorphous brittle brown and somewhat bitter substance obtained by heating sugar and used as a coloring and flavoring agent