gluten

noun

glu·​ten ˈglü-tᵊn 

: a tenacious elastic protein substance especially of wheat flour that gives cohesiveness to dough

glutenous

ˈglü-tə-nəs 

ˈglüt-nəs

adjective

Examples of gluten in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While about 10% of adults worldwide report bloating, fatigue or gut pain after eating foods containing gluten, only 16% to 30% of those cases show true gluten-specific reactions, the paper found. —Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025

The menu features Gemignani’s New York, Sicilian, Grandma and Detroit-style pizzas, available by the slice or whole pie, with gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. —Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025

Almond products like almond milk, butter, and flour are great for people following a vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free diet. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 29 Oct. 2025

Nutty cashew pieces provided a satisfying crunch, while the cookie itself had a delightfully crisp, slightly chewy texture — a reminder that gluten-free doesn’t mean flavor-free. —Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin glutin-, gluten glue — more at clay

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gluten

• pluton
• rutin

Kids Definition

gluten

noun

glu·​ten ˈglüt-ᵊn 

: a tough elastic protein substance in flour especially from wheat that holds together dough and makes it sticky

Medical Definition

gluten

noun

glu·​ten ˈglüt-ᵊn 

: a gluey protein substance especially of wheat flour that causes dough to be sticky

glutenous

ˈglüt-nəs, -ᵊn-əs 

adjective