noun
margarine
mah-juh-REEN
Margarine (noun) means a spread made mainly from vegetable oils, used as a substitute for butter. Example: “She swapped butter for margarine to cut down on saturated fat.”
noun
1
A spread made mainly from vegetable oils, used as a substitute for butter.
"She swapped butter for margarine to cut down on saturated fat."
"The recipe calls for a stick of margarine, softened."
How to use margarine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA butter substitute made from plant oils.
UK vs US
Often shortened informally to "marge" in British English; the shortened form is rarely used in American English.
Common pairings
a tub of margarine
margarine or butter
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Word forms
- Plural
- margarines
- Third person singular
- margarines
- Past tense
- margarined
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She swapped butter for _____ to cut down on saturated fat.
Etymology
From French margarine, named after margaric acid, itself from Ancient Greek márgaron ("pearl") because of the substance's pearly sheen — coined by French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for margarine
See all rhymes for margarine →Frequently asked questions
What does “margarine” mean?
The word “margarine” means a spread made mainly from vegetable oils, used as a substitute for butter. In plain terms, a butter substitute made from plant oils.
How do you pronounce “margarine”?
“Margarine” is pronounced mah-juh-REEN (/ˈmɑɹ.d͡ʒ(ə.)ɹɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “margarine” in a sentence?
Here is “margarine” used in a sentence: “She swapped butter for margarine to cut down on saturated fat.”
What part of speech is “margarine”?
“Margarine” is a noun.
Where does the word “margarine” come from?
The word “margarine” comes from Ancient Greek. From French margarine, named after margaric acid, itself from Ancient Greek márgaron ("pearl") because of the substance's pearly sheen — coined by French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul.
