cookbook

1 of 2

noun

cook·​book ˈku̇k-ˌbu̇k 

: a book of cooking directions and recipes

broadly : a book of detailed instructions

cookbook

2 of 2

adjective

: involving or using step-by-step procedures whose rationale is usually not explained

a cookbook approach

Examples of cookbook in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Made in the Pennsylvania Dutch communities of the East, this dessert has filtered its way into community and church cookbooks around the country. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2025

Rather than rows of shelves filled with goods and cardboard boxes stuffed with pantry items, there are floating shelves with a limited selection of snacks and cookbooks, and just a few colorful milk crates, where Sanchez stashes additional inventory. —Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 1 Aug. 2025

Adjective

Heather is also a cookbook author; Pure Delicious is her latest release. —Heather Christo, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Jan. 2023

It’s designed by Jeremy Mickel and inspired by the warmth of cookbook fonts from the 1960s and ’70s. —Dawn Davis, Bon Appétit, 22 Nov. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1809, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cookbook

• betook
• casebook
• chapbook
• checkbook
• chinook
• codebook
• fishhook
• forsook
• guidebook
• handbook
• hornbook
• logbook

Kids Definition

cookbook

noun

cook·​book

ˈku̇k-ˌbu̇k

: a book of cooking recipes and cooking directions