Definition of MOUTHFEEL

Did You Know?

Do you sometimes find yourself trying to describe a concept or phenomenon for which you don't have a word? In such cases, it is not unusual for people to coin neologisms (new words or expressions) to describe such concepts or phenomena - the pink glow on the underside of gray clouds right before sunset, for example, or the sensation created in the mouth by a particular item of food or drink. Indeed, this latter concept has already been given a name, "mouthfeel," a simple combination of "mouth" and "feel" that can be used to describe the creamy warmth of a mushroom soup or the dry, velvety sensation of a pinot noir. This coinage is relatively new; its earliest known use dates back only to 1951.

Examples of mouthfeel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Apricot plus other stone and tropical fruits give way to a soft mouthfeel, minerality and a nutty finish with a tiny pinch of lime. — Michael Austin, chicagotribune.com, "Explore Michigan's diverse wine scene, one of the country's most exciting developing regions," 5 July 2018 From Old Mission Peninsula, this wine delivers peach and pear with a balancing nuttiness, luxuriously soft mouthfeel and a clean finish. $22 2016 Mari Vineyards Dry Riesling. — Michael Austin, chicagotribune.com, "Explore Michigan's diverse wine scene, one of the country's most exciting developing regions," 5 July 2018 With notes of fennel, apricot, peach, vanilla and nuts, this wine’s lively bubbles gave it a creamy mouthfeel. — Michael Austin, The Seattle Times, "Trentodoc is the budget answer to Champagne you need to know," 11 Sep. 2018 The use of coconut oil resulted in a greasy mouthfeel, and the once-sweet flavor of the carrots was flattened out and metallic. — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit, "Gluten-Free Carrot Cake," 14 May 2018 The dill pickle from Pucker Pickles is sweet and the mayo and Carolina seasoning (made with brown sugar and cayenne) give the burger a silky, sweet and creamy mouthfeel. — Chicago Tribune, chicagotribune.com, "Sandwiches, soups, salads and more: 20 ideas for what to eat for lunch," 17 May 2018 Both of these beers were technically well made, with nice heads, carbonation and mouthfeel. — Todd Haefer, The (appleton, USA TODAY, "Beer Man: Ommegang Candi Stout gets sweet right," 8 Apr. 2018 Peterson is working in a long, long tradition of conservatives, from Galton to Rockefeller to Reagan, using weak scientific data to give their dogma the mouthfeel of objectivity. — Laurie Penny, Longreads, "Peterson’s Complaint," 12 July 2018 The better the filter, the less sediment there will be at the end, which adds a gritty mouthfeel to your coffee, which is undesirable to many. — Jeffrey Van Camp, WIRED, "The 6 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers You Can Buy," 22 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mouthfeel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.