tallow

1 of 2

noun

tal·​low ˈta-(ˌ)lō 

: the white nearly tasteless solid rendered fat of cattle and sheep used chiefly in soap, candles, and lubricants

tallowy

ˈta-lə-wē 

adjective

tallow

2 of 2

verb

tallowed; tallowing; tallows

transitive verb

: to grease or smear with tallow

Examples of tallow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The fast-casual restaurant uses no seed oils—all dishes are cooked exclusively in tallow. —Dawn Giangiulio, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026

That includes a public stop at a Florida Steak ‘n Shake in March after the chain ditched vegetable oil for beef tallow. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 7 Jan. 2026

Kennedy has previously criticized seed oils and extolled tallow, at odds with long-standing recommendations. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026

That’s a win for the meat industry and for members of the MAHA contingent who enjoy steak-heavy diets and their french fries sizzled in beef tallow. —Sarah Todd, STAT, 7 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English talgh, talow; akin to Middle Dutch talch tallow

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tallow

• callow
• hallo
• hallow
• mallow
• palo
• sallow
• shallow
• caballo
• cavallo

Kids Definition

tallow

noun

tal·​low

ˈtal-ō

: the solid fat of cattle and sheep used chiefly in soap, candles, and lubricants

Medical Definition

tallow

noun

tal·​low ˈtal-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w) 

: the white nearly tasteless solid rendered fat of cattle and sheep which is used chiefly in soap, margarine, candles, and lubricants and of which the form obtained from domestic sheep (Ovis aries) is used in pharmacy in ointments and cerates