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

Lovely and varied aromas that include florals, gingerbread, meringue and plums. —Tom Mullen, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025

The countertop acts as the bar, with the silver cylinders housing opening flavors: gingerbread; an almost savory fig leaf, oolong, and prune; mellow sorbets. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2025

Cookies and cream is a classic, but this would also be a great way to use up chocolate or peppermint cookies, or even spiced gingerbread. —Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Dec. 2024

Forty-one gingerbread creations have been placed around town to help bring holiday cheer (as well as attract donations and tourist dollars) to the struggling city. —David Morgan, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gingerbread

• gingerbread man

Rhymes for gingerbread

• abovesaid
• aforesaid
• arrowhead
• casinghead
• copperhead
• figurehead
• fountainhead
• hammerhead
• infrared
• leatherhead
• letterhead
• loggerhead

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