margarine

noun

mar·​ga·​rine ˈmär-jə-rən 

-ˌrēn;

ˈmärj-rən

: a food product made usually from vegetable oils churned with ripened skim milk to a smooth emulsion and used like butter

Examples of margarine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The powerful dairy lobby, in order to preserve its butter production, mobilized to curtail the supply of margarine through legislative instruments such as labeling, segregation of production, and limitations to interstate trade. —Edoardo Campanella, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2017

Lunch was served as the Thanksgiving meal for Combs and his fellow inmates with a turkey roast, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, cranberry sauce, turkey gravy, dinner rolls and margarine. —Lauryn Overhultz, Fox News, 6 Dec. 2024

In 1962, Americans began to consume more vegetable fats, largely in the form of margarine; four years later, cardiovascular deaths began a decades-long decline. —Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 2 Dec. 2024

Cream the margarine and remaining ⅔ cup of sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or by hand with a wooden spoon in a large bowl, until pale and fluffy. —Nicole Hvidsten, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, ultimately from Greek margaron pearl, probably back-formation from margaritēs

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

margarine

noun

mar·​ga·​rine ˈmärj-(ə-)rən 

ˈmärj-ə-ˌrēn

: a food product made from usually vegetable oils and skim milk and used as a spread and a cooking fat

Medical Definition

margarine

noun

mar·​ga·​rine ˈmärj-(ə-)rən, -ə-ˌrēn 

: a food product made usually from vegetable oils churned with ripened skim milk to a smooth emulsion, often fortified with vitamins A and D, and used as a substitute for butter