marshmallow

noun

marsh·​mal·​low ˈmärsh-ˌme-lō How to pronounce marshmallow (audio)
-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 adjective

Examples of marshmallow in a Sentence

We toasted marshmallows over the fire.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sometime in the 1930s, the story goes, an employee accidentally made a runny batch of penny marshmallows. David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025 Ours fold in extra mini marshmallows, for pockets of sugary goodness. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 26 June 2025 During Yonder Mountain String Band’s set, fans throw a barrage of marshmallows at the members on stage. Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 26 June 2025 At once tangy, crunchy, creamy, sweet and sour, the salad has evolved slightly to include walnuts (added in the 1920s), and later, raisins and grapes, and even marshmallows and eggs. Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for marshmallow

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of marshmallow was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Marshmallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marshmallow. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

marshmallow

noun
marsh·​mal·​low ˈmärsh-ˌmel-ō How to pronounce marshmallow (audio)
-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
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on marshmallow

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