marmite
noun
a metal or earthenware cooking pot with a cover, usually large and often having legs.
marmite
American
[mahr-mahyt, mahr-meet]
/ ˈmɑr maɪt, mɑrˈmit /
noun
marmite
1
British
/ ˈmɑːmaɪt /
noun
-
a large cooking pot
-
soup cooked in such a pot
-
an individual covered casserole for serving soup
-
military a container used to bring food to troops in the field
Marmite
2
British
/ ˈmɑːmaɪt /
noun
Etymology
Origin of marmite
1795–1805; < French, Middle French, apparently equivalent to mar ( m )-, base of marmotter to mutter, murmur ( see marmot) + mite expressive word for a cat; probably originally a jocular or nursery word, a deep, covered pot being thought of as secretive and hence catlike in comparison to an open pan; compare Old French marmite hypocritical
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Stir in the butter and marmite, adding a little of the pasta water to loosen if need be.
From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2023
“Boris Johnson was a marmite politician” said David Simmonds, a Conservative lawmaker in the neighboring area of Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, referring to a salty, yeasty paste that Britons tend to either love or hate.
From New York Times ● Jul. 18, 2023
A number of popular items, including marmite and cream cheese, have faced scarcities amid supply chain disruptions wrought by the coronavirus pandemic and extreme weather.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 8, 2022
"A bit of a marmite," is how Harrington described Poulter, using a British term for a person who people either love or hate.
From Fox News ● Sep. 22, 2021
The country here was not torn up by marmite holes, or the chasms made by the Big Berthas.
From Ruth Fielding In the Red Cross Doing Her Best For Uncle Sam by Emerson, Alice B.
Other popular brands include Marmite yeast extract and Colman’s mustard.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 29, 2026
The British-Dutch company confirmed the news on Friday following media speculation that it had received an inbound offer for its “highly attractive” food unit, which includes brands such as Marmite, Knorr and Hellmann’s.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 20, 2026
The animals were captured using specially-designed traps filled with soft bedding and food, including oats, peanut butter, and Marmite -- which they find particularly delicious -- before being transferred to a footprint collection box.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 29, 2026
The thick, brown condiment - made primarily from yeast extract - was invented in the Victorian capital of Melbourne more than a century ago as an alternative to the British spread Marmite.
From BBC ● Nov. 18, 2025
The end is a pit called La Marmite du Grand Gueulard, the muckle-mouthed giant's kettle.
From The Man-Wolf and Other Tales by Erckmann-Chatrian
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
