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Marmite

(Commonwealth) A brand of sticky, dark brown, strongly flavored spread based on a yeast extract (a by-product of beer brewing), eaten on toast, in sandwiches, in savory dishes, etc.

ˈmɑː(ɹ)maɪtDocumented since 1990s1990sMillennialhistoricalCurrent176 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
3 definitions
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Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026

Etymology timeline

Born ~1996 · 1 year of recorded use
1996Born2026: 5 citationsToday, 2026
Millennial / early-internet eraSee decade cohort →

Seen in the wild

Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

(Commonwealth) A brand of sticky, dark brown, strongly flavored spread based on a yeast extract (a by-product of beer brewing), eaten on toast, in sandwiches, in savory dishes, etc.

Peyró has the grace to acknowledge that Marmite isn’t really a sauce before dismissing it as “filth”, and moving on to mint sauce.
Origin: From . The common-noun sense derives from an advertising campaign (1996 and onwards) featuring the slogan love it or hate it. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK

(UK, informal) Something which people either love or hate.

For parents

"Marmite" means: Something which people either love or hate.. This is informal slang, common in casual speech, texting and social media, but not appropriate for school work, applications or professional settings. There is no real cause for concern in itself; it is everyday peer vocabulary. If your child uses it, a light comment about audience and register is usually enough — no need to escalate. Context, more than the word, tells you whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"Marmite" means: Something which people either love or hate.. Register: informal slang, fine in casual conversation, texting and social media but not in academic essays, business writing or formal speech. Note the regional or dialect label (UK) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

Cluster: angry
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UK
#3·Apr 27, 2026UK

(UK, informal) Divisive, such that one either loves or hates it; polarizing.

But that 10% gap between fans and detractors leaves room for an interesting concept: is there something more Marmite than Marmite?
Heard in the wild
  • “@avantgardening.pl Wishing you all the very best for the operation, Robin. I presume Ryszard will be looking after Marmite in your absence. Please tell him to treat her very well because all your Bluesky followers will be taking note. Good luck! 🐈‍⬛”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Marmite is objectively the worst food Luke has eaten during Extra Life of all time to our knowledge.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “"Did you make a marmite sandwich?" "YOU'RE GODDAM RIGHT I DID!" 💀”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “I haven't used marmite (ever I think) but I understand it's pretty much a surypy version of nutritional yeast, which is great on eggs.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “You’re either racing to the dancefloor or contemplating slicing your ears off to this. The marmite of house. (I belong in the former category)”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang

UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.

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