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

The full menu also includes honey maple Belgian dark chocolate pecan pie; ciabatta, country batard, and rosemary sea salt sourdough; sourdough pull-apart rolls; plain bagels; and ginger molasses and orange dark chocolate chip cookies. — Sara Hansen, Denver Post, 11 Nov. 2026

Lately, however, bagels that can hold their own with the Brookyniest of them have popped up in Orange County. — Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 11 Nov. 2026

The bagels go through a two-day rise and are dunked in boiling water and the result is a fluffy yet firm thick sourdough bagel. — Richard Guzman, Daily News, 11 Nov. 2026

Bagels is offering a free coffee and bagel with shmear to veterans and active duty military Wednesday. — Digital Producer, CBS News, 10 Nov. 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