chewing gum

noun

: a sweetened and flavored insoluble plastic material (such as a preparation of chicle) used for chewing

Examples of chewing gum in a Sentence

a piece of chewing gum
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.
Klein saw the gap and built the brand around chewing gum sweetened with xylitol instead. — Karl Moore, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 This includes restrictions like limits on chewing gum and strong penalties for littering and vandalism. — ABC News, 13 July 2026 Seven years ago, Mayor Dean Trantalis described Fiveash as being held together by spit and chewing gum. — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2026 The humble chewing gum wrapper. — David Morgan, CBS News, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for chewing gum

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chewing gum was in 1850

Rhymes for chewing gum

See All Rhymes for chewing gum

Browse Nearby Words

chewet
chewing gum
chewings fescue
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chewing gum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chewing%20gum. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

chewing gum

noun
: a sweetened and flavored soft material (as of chicle) used for chewing

More from Merriam-Webster on chewing gum

Nglish: Translation of chewing gum for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chewing gum

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of raffish

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All