mashed: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to Informal
Quick answer
What does “mashed” mean?
Food, especially potatoes, that has been crushed into a soft, pulpy state.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Food, especially potatoes, that has been crushed into a soft, pulpy state.
Any substance or material that has been crushed, beaten, or pulverized into a soft, uniform mixture; also used figuratively to describe something thoroughly mixed or blended.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British informal slang, 'mashed' can mean 'drunk' (e.g., 'I was completely mashed last night'). This usage is very rare in American English. Both varieties use 'mashed potatoes' as the standard term.
Connotations
In both varieties, the culinary sense is neutral. The British slang sense is informal and slightly humorous.
Frequency
The food sense is high frequency in both. The British slang sense is low-to-medium frequency in informal UK contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “mashed” in a Sentence
[be] mashed (into something)[have] something mashedmashed [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mashed” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She mashed the swedes with butter and pepper.
- The rugby player got his nose mashed in the scrum.
American English
- He mashed the avocados for guacamole.
- The car's fender was mashed in the collision.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in food industry marketing (e.g., 'Our pre-mashed avocado saves time').
Academic
Rare, except in food science or historical culinary texts.
Everyday
Very common, especially in domestic and culinary contexts.
Technical
Used in food processing and agriculture (e.g., 'mashed feed for livestock').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mashed”
- Using 'mashed' as a present tense verb (correct: 'mash').
- Using 'mashed' to describe a liquid (correct for thick, soft solids).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while 'mashed potatoes' is the most common collocation, many other vegetables, fruits, and legumes can be described as mashed (e.g., mashed carrots, mashed beans).
'Mashed' typically implies a coarser, lumpier texture achieved with tools like a masher or fork. 'Pureed' suggests a very smooth, liquid-like consistency, usually made in a blender or food processor.
Yes, the base verb is 'to mash'. 'Mashed' is its past tense and past participle form (e.g., 'I mashed the garlic', 'The garlic was mashed').
It is neutral but leans slightly informal. It is perfectly standard in cooking instructions and everyday conversation but would be replaced by terms like 'pulverized' or 'comminuted' in very formal technical writing.
Food, especially potatoes, that has been crushed into a soft, pulpy state.
Mashed: in British English it is pronounced /mæʃt/, and in American English it is pronounced /mæʃt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Mashed potato (informal: nonsense or empty talk)”
- “Mashed to a pulp”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MASH of potatoes – the word 'mashed' is just that MASH with a 'D' sound added.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESTRUCTION IS MASHING (e.g., 'The team got mashed in the final.'), UNIFORMITY IS MASHING (e.g., 'The opinions were mashed into one bland statement.')
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English can 'mashed' informally mean 'drunk'?