sourdough

noun

sour·​dough ˈsau̇(-ə)r-ˌdō 

sense 1 is also -ˈdō

1

: a leaven consisting of dough in which fermentation is active

2

[from the use of sourdough for making bread in prospectors' camps] : a veteran inhabitant and especially an old-time prospector of Alaska or northwestern Canada

Examples of sourdough in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For me, those staples include homemade bolognese, soup, stock, and sourdough in the freezer; pasta, rice, and a few cans of black beans and chickpeas in the pantry; and bouillon, lemons, dijon mustard, cheese, and of course, pickled red onions in the fridge. — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 26 June 2026

His mornings begin before 7 AM, baking sourdough and preparing all meals for guests and an 11-person crew. — Amber Love Bond, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

The scent of fresh sourdough drifts from one room as the aroma of Korean soul food fill the air in another. — Jeff Gritchen, Oc Register, 25 June 2026

His creations feature a proprietary cheese blend, a housemade marinara sauce and a preservative-free sourdough from a local baker delivered each morning. — Sam Flemming, AJC.com, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sourdough

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

sourdough

noun

sour·​dough ˈsau̇(ə)r-ˌdō 

1

: a dough in which fermentation is active and which is used to start fermentation in other dough (as in making bread)

2

: an old-time prospector in Alaska or northwestern Canada