marshmallow

noun

marsh·​mal·​low ˈmärsh-ˌme-lō 

-ˌma-

1

usually marsh mallow : a pink-flowered European perennial herb (Althaea officinalis) of the mallow family that is naturalized in the eastern U.S. and has flowers, leaves, and roots used in herbal remedies

2

: a sweet white confection usually in the form of a spread or small spongy cylindrical pieces now usually made from corn syrup, sugar, albumen, and gelatin but formerly from the marshmallow's root

also : one of these spongy pieces

toasted marshmallows on sticks over a campfire

marshmallowy

ˈmärsh-ˌme-lə-wē 

-ˌma-

adjective

Examples of marshmallow in a Sentence

We toasted marshmallows over the fire.

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s made with mini marshmallows baked in, then finished with butter graham streusel. — Richard Guzman, Daily News, 25 June 2026

At night, pick up a free marshmallow kit from the General Store, complete with sticks, graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows for a sweet evening by the firepits. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 June 2026

Mallo Cups If chocolate and marshmallow are two of your favorite flavors, the old-school Mallo Cup has your back. — Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 25 June 2026

Shaped like mini versions of their namesake fruits, these whimsical, pillowy marshmallows get their sweet strawberry and watermelon flavors from strawberry powder, watermelon powder, and natural flavors. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 23 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for marshmallow

• morello
• othello
• schoolfellow
• cello
• fellow
• jello
• mellow
• melo
• velo
• portobello
• violoncello

Kids Definition

marshmallow

noun

marsh·​mal·​low ˈmärsh-ˌmel-ō 

-ˌmal-

1

: a pink-flowered herb related to the mallows that has a root sometimes used in sweets and in medicine

2

: a soft spongy sweet formerly made from the root of the marshmallow but now usually prepared from corn syrup, sugar, albumen, and gelatin

Medical Definition

marshmallow

noun

marsh·​mal·​low ˈmärsh-ˌmel-ō, -ˌmel-ə(-w), -ˌmal- 

variants or marsh mallow

: a European perennial herb of the genus Althaea (A. officinalis) naturalized in the eastern United States whose pink flowers, velvety leaves, and mucilaginous root are used in herbal medicine and whose root was formerly used in confectionary see althaea sense 2