pretzel

noun

pret·​zel ˈpret-səl 

: a brittle or chewy glazed usually salted slender bread often shaped like a loose knot

Examples of pretzel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But some customers were unimpressed by the cinnamon-and-sugar dessert and called for the pre-churro pretzel offering. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2025

The results of the study were never published, but as videos of the experiment show, players with the advantage soon began displaying more dominant behavior, taking up more room at the table, moving their opponent’s piece for them, even eating more pretzels from a shared bowl. —Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 15 June 2025

The company — whose snack brands include Goldfish, Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels and Cape Cod chips — saw snack sales slip 5% in the last three months. —Steve Kopack, NBC news, 3 June 2025

Other ballparks staples like popcorn and peanuts are $6.50 and nachos and soft pretzels are $6.75, before taxes. —Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

German Brezel, ultimately from Latin brachiatus having branches like arms, from brachium arm — more at brace entry 2

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pretzel

• quetzal

Kids Definition

pretzel

noun

pret·​zel ˈpret-səl 

: a brown cracker that is salted and usually hard and shaped like a loose knot

Etymology

from German Brezel "pretzel," derived from Latin brachiatus (adjective) "having branches like arms," from brachium, "arm" — related to brace entry 2

Word Origin

Pretzels were probably first made in the U.S. during the 19th century by immigrants from Germany. The English word pretzel comes from the German Brezel. The familiar knot-shaped pretzel has been known in Germanic countries for centuries. Its German name comes from the Latin brachiatus, which means "having branches like arms." The pretzel likely got its name because its knot shape looks something like a pair of folded arms.