gluten free

Meaning

This refers to food that does not contain gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. It is used by people with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, or those choosing a specific diet.

Examples

• Do you have any gluten-free options on the menu?

  Do you have any gluten-free options on the menu?

• She has to eat gluten-free bread because she has celiac disease.

  She has to eat gluten-free bread because she has celiac disease.

• This brewery makes a surprisingly good gluten-free beer.

  This brewery makes a surprisingly good gluten-free beer.

• I'm looking for the gluten-free section in the grocery store.

  I'm looking for the gluten-free section in the grocery store.

• Is this soy sauce gluten-free, or does it contain wheat?

  Is this soy sauce gluten-free, or does it contain wheat?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Are these cookies free of gluten?

  ✓ Are these cookies gluten-free?

  While 'free of gluten' is grammatically correct, 'gluten-free' is the standard, natural adjective used by native speakers.

• ✗ I am on a gluten free diet.

  ✓ I am on a gluten-free diet.

  Use a hyphen when 'gluten-free' modifies a noun directly (like 'diet' or 'bread').

Related Expressions

Practice

• My sister can't eat wheat, so we need to find a ___ bakery.

  💡 A bakery that does not use wheat, barley, or rye

  Show answer

  gluten-free

• Is this pasta ___?

  💡 Safe for people with celiac disease

  Show answer

  gluten-free