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

Listen, a bagel dog with a recent indie movie? —Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026

Grande also owns Toast’d, a bagel and schmear shop, located in Itty-Bitty’s original spot. —Pamela Brown, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2026

Certain establishments are likely to shutter for the day, though bodegas, pizza places and bagel sellers stand to cash in. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 18 June 2026

Expect riffs on the Persian frittata kuku sabzi, a variant of the toad in the hole involving shakshuka, plus sabich reconceived in bagel form. —Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 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