gluten-free

/ˈgluɾɪnfri/

/ˈglutɪnfri/

When food is gluten-free, it doesn't contain a protein that's commonly found in bread and other baked goods. People with celiac disease need to eat a gluten-free diet to be healthy.

Gluten, which means "glue" in Latin, came to describe the sticky substance in wheat that makes dough stretchy. When something is gluten-free, it's free of any gluten, a designation that is important for people whose bodies can't digest the protein. If someone has celiac disease, their immune system reacts to gluten in a way that eventually damages their digestive system. Gluten-free foods are a lifesaver for people with celiac.

Definitions of gluten-free

1. adjective

   (of food or diet) not containing a protein found in wheat and other cereal grains that makes dough elastic