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

Eventually the pressure overwhelms a small weak spot in the pill’s gelatin exterior, resulting in a jet of drug particles. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025

The duck feather has received a lot of attention in waterproofing technology, recently inspiring a new type of gelatin film for food packaging that could be both more sustainable and keep food fresh longer than plastic. —Ian Rose, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 June 2025

Recipe Tips From The Southern Living Test Kitchen Adding strawberry jelly in addition to the gelatin powder enhances the strawberry flavor in the cream cheese mixture and adds in bits and pieces of fruit for texture. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2025

Peeps ingredients: How much sugar is in a package of Peeps? Marshmallow Peeps contain sugar, corn syrup, gelatin and other ingredients. —John Tufts, IndyStar, 2 July 2025

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