pastry

noun

pas·​try ˈpā-strē 

plural pastries

1

a

: a dough that is used to make pies and other baked goods and typically has a high fat content : paste sense 1a

b

: usually sweet baked goods made of dough having a high fat content

a plate of tempting pastry

see danish pastry, french pastry

2

: a piece of pastry

I had a pastry and a cup of tea.

Examples of pastry in a Sentence

He worked on the filling while I prepared the pastry.

She had a pastry and coffee for breakfast.

Recent Examples on the Web

For dessert, pastry chef Jaime Craten (formerly of Vespertine, Destroyer and Meteora) balances sweet and savory with lighter options like almond tofu with citrus, jujubee and osmanthus, or chamomile custard that’s topped with a refreshing apple-and-cucumber granita with a kinako shortbread cookie. —Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025

On weekends, their brunch includes bottomless mimosas, eggs Benedict, freshly baked pastries, and fluffy pancakes. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2025

Researchers from Switzerland's École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) have formed an unlikely collaboration team with pastry chefs and food scientists to create the RoboCake, currently on show at Osaka's Expo 2025. —New Atlas, 4 May 2025

The bakery tucked inside a laundromat offers pastries, baked goods and sandwiches, plus coffee. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

paste entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pastry

• choux pastry
• Danish pastry
• French pastry
• pastry cream
• puff pastry

Kids Definition

pastry

noun

past·​ry

ˈpā-strē

plural pastries

1

: sweet baked goods (as cakes or tarts) made of dough or having a crust made of enriched dough

2

: a piece of pastry