gingerbread

noun

gin·​ger·​bread ˈjin-jər-ˌbred 

1

: a cake whose ingredients include molasses and ginger

2

[from the fancy shapes and gilding formerly often applied to gingerbread] : lavish or superfluous ornament especially in architecture

gingerbread adjective

gingerbreaded

ˈjin-jər-ˌbre-dəd 

adjective

gingerbready

ˈjin-jər-ˌbre-dē 

adjective

Examples of gingerbread in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The building manager, who introduces herself as Mrs. Ruse (Elaine Carlson), drops by to welcome the new residents with homemade gingerbread and some magical chocolates that reveal her true identity as a witch — maybe even the one who cursed the Beast. —Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025

The cake was a scrumptious four-layer gingerbread and chocolate extravaganza. —Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2025

Many foods and drinks contain ginger, including ginger snaps, ginger sticks, and gingerbread. —Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2025

For gingerbread with frosting, Derrin Abac, director of food and beverage at Hotel Wailea in Maui, recommends an off-dry Alsatian Gewurztraminer. —Jillian Dara, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gingerbread

• gingerbread man

Kids Definition

gingerbread

noun

gin·​ger·​bread ˈjin-jər-ˌbred 

1

: a cake made with molasses and flavored with ginger

2

: showy ornamentation especially in architecture

gingerbread adjective