bagel

noun

ba·​gel ˈbā-gəl 

plural bagels

1

: a firm doughnut-shaped roll traditionally made by boiling and then baking

2

[from the resemblance of a bagel to the zero in the score of such a set] tennis, slang : a set (see set entry 2 sense 15) in which one player or team wins every game

They were never in danger of losing, taking a 5-1 lead in the first set and registering a bagel in the second.

—Mike McGovern

Examples of bagel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lines formed at the location as a steady stream of customers ordered from a choice of green chile, apple cinnamon, cheesy hashbrown, sesame seed and other bagel flavors. —Jenna Thompson april 30, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026

While Shug’s Bagels owner and founder Justin Shugrue is originally from New York, don't waste your time debating whether or not Shug's makes New York-style bagels. —Nathanael Gassett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026

At Fairmont Bagel, dig into its original poppy-seed bagel. —Megan Wallitsch, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026

There will also be a honey glazed ham carving station, smoked salmon and bagel bar, cheese and meat charcuterie and assorted pastries. —Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish beygl, from Middle High German *böugel ring, from bouc ring, from Old High German; akin to Old English bēag ring, būgan to bend — more at bow

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bagel

noun

ba·​gel ˈbā-gəl 

: a firm doughnut-shaped roll