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

The long, slow cooking process gives the meat’s connective tissue time to break down and release gelatin, which results in tender, juicy meat. —Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 11 Dec. 2025

Modernizing Core Capabilities The company’s roots span chemicals, hydrocolloids, gelatin, functional proteins, collagen peptides, technical textiles, chemicals, marine, insurance and real estate. —Jon Stojan, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025

Add 3 cups frozen whipped topping directly into the gelatin mixture. —Justin Burke, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025

Searches for agar-agar, a vegetarian gelatin substitute, are up 35 percent. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 9 Dec. 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