mouthful

American  

[mouth-fool] / ˈmaʊθˌfʊl /

noun

plural

mouthfuls

1. the amount a mouth can hold.

2. the amount taken into the mouth at one time.

3. a small quantity.

4. Informal. a spoken remark of great truth, relevance, effectiveness, etc..

   You said a mouthful!

5. a long word or group of words, especially one that is hard to pronounce.

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mouthful British  

/ ˈmaʊθˌfʊl /

noun

1. as much as is held in the mouth at one time

2. a small quantity, as of food

3. a long word or phrase that is difficult to say

4. informal an abusive response

5. informal an impressive remark (esp in the phrase say a mouthful )

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mouthful Idioms  

1. see say a mouthful.

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Spelling

See -ful.

Etymology

Origin of mouthful

1375–1425; late Middle English. See mouth, -ful

Example Sentences

If that seems like a mouthful, here’s the takeaway from researchers themselves: Allen Scheie, a physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, says the result “raises the bar for what can be expected from quantum computers.”

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

Rather than focusing on preventing long-term diseases, the goal becomes maintaining muscle mass, preventing weight loss and ensuring every mouthful delivers plenty of nutrients.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2026

By the time it reached final inspection it had acquired a cloak of ruby-red metallic paint, diamond-white LED headlamps and a mouthful of metal grillework as bright as a tea service.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

It’s lighter than some Italian-American standbys, but no less satisfying — the flavor comes forward with every twist of the fork, sharp and indulgent in equal measure, a little citrus perfume in every mouthful.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2025

“It’s better than it looks,” he said around a mouthful.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn