marshmallow: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1neutral to informal
Quick answer
What does “marshmallow” mean?
A soft, spongy confection made from sugar, water, and gelatin, typically white or pink in colour, often roasted or used in desserts.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A soft, spongy confection made from sugar, water, and gelatin, typically white or pink in colour, often roasted or used in desserts.
A person who is soft, sentimental, or lacking in resilience (informal, figurative). In computing, a codename for a version of the Android operating system (6.0).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The sweet itself is identical. Spelling: UK uses 'colour' when referring to hue; US uses 'color'.
Connotations
Similar connotations of childhood, campfires, and sweet treats in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common and familiar in both cultures.
Grammar
How to Use “marshmallow” in a Sentence
[verb] + marshmallow: eat, roast, toast, buymarshmallow + [noun]: marshmallow bunny, marshmallow spreadVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “marshmallow” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The frosting had a marshmallow consistency.
- He gave a marshmallow reply, avoiding any conflict.
American English
- The icing had a marshmallow texture.
- Her argument was marshmallow-soft and unconvincing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in food industry reports or marketing for confectionery.
Academic
Very rare outside of food science or cultural studies contexts.
Everyday
Common in contexts of food, cooking, camping, and informal descriptions of character.
Technical
Specific usage in computing for 'Android Marshmallow' (version 6.0).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “marshmallow”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “marshmallow”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “marshmallow”
- Misspelling as 'marshmellow'. Using the figurative sense ('soft person') in formal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is usually countable when referring to individual sweets ('three marshmallows'). It can be uncountable when referring to the substance or flavour ('a taste of marshmallow').
Marshmallows are made with gelatin, giving a chewy, bouncy texture. Meringues are made from whipped egg whites and sugar, giving a crisp, airy texture that can dissolve.
Standard dictionaries do not list a verb form for 'marshmallow'. Informal, creative use (e.g., 'to marshmallow a tweet') is extremely rare and non-standard.
It is a spreadable version of marshmallow confection, popular in the US, used in sandwiches (like Fluffernutters with peanut butter) and in dessert recipes.
A soft, spongy confection made from sugar, water, and gelatin, typically white or pink in colour, often roasted or used in desserts.
Marshmallow is usually neutral to informal in register.
Marshmallow: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɑːʃˈmæləʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːrʃˌmeloʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's a real marshmallow (meaning: overly soft or sentimental).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MARSH (wet land) being soft, and a MALLOW plant being soft—together they make a very soft sweet.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOFTNESS IS WEAKNESS / LACK OF FIRMNESS (e.g., 'Don't be such a marshmallow!').
Practice
Quiz
In informal figurative use, calling someone a 'marshmallow' suggests they are: