SummaryAn improved method has been developed for the determination of total gossypol in cottonseed and cottonseed meal. The sample is heated with aniline to convert the gossypol to dianilinogossypol, which is extracted with chloroform and measured spectrophotometrically. The values for total gossypol are slightly higher and more accurate and precise as determined by the proposed method because of more complete extraction than by a recent p‐anisidine method or the revised A.O.C.S. Tentative Method Ba 8‐55. The advantages of the proposed method are its simplicity, accuracy, reproducibility, and expeditiousness.