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

Other limited-time items include a S’mores McFlurry, vanilla soft serve mixed with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows, available through Aug. 11. Lil McDonald’s Happy Meals are also available while supplies last. —Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 9 July 2025

Last year, Graeter's released 10 limited-edition flavors: Lemon Meringue Pie, made with tart lemon candies, crunchy pie crust pieces, and lemon marshmallow ice cream. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

Inside, the buses have black and white floors and glass jars reminiscent of penny candy filled with toppings such as Oreo cookie crumble, chocolate chips, rainbow and chocolate sprinkles, gummy bear, marshmallows. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2025

Our teenage sons, in a moment of joyous regression, insisted on roasting marshmallows. —Dinaw Mengestu, Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2025

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- 

: 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