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Definition of gobstopper

gobstopper

/ˈɡɑːbˌstɑː.pɚ/
gob · stop · per
Plural:gobstoppers
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gobstopper Lexical Profile

gobstopper Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British A large, hard, spherical candy composed of multiple colored layers that dissolve slowly when sucked, known in North America as a jawbreaker.

Example

"The children bought a bag of colorful gobstoppers from the traditional sweet shop."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for gobstopper

• Nearby Words

gobshite
gobsmacked
gobsmacking
gobstopper
goby
gochujang
gocta

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in early 20th-century British English from the slang noun 'gob' (meaning mouth) and 'stopper', referring to a hard sweet large enough to fill the mouth and prevent speaking.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gobstopper. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gobstopper
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