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

It also evenly distributes the fat, making every mouthful taste and feel the same.

From Slate • Jan. 28, 2026

The government department in charge of these archives is a bureaucratic mouthful: the Authority for Information Concerning Documentation of the Former State Security Service.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 30, 2025

He chewed the first one: it tasted sweet and nutty, but was barely a mouthful.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver