dumpling

noun

dump·​ling ˈdəmp-liŋ 

plural dumplings

1

a

: a small mass of dough cooked by boiling or steaming

chicken soup with dumplings

b

: a casing of dough enclosing a typically savory filling (such as meat or seafood) and cooked usually by boiling, steaming, or pan-frying see gyoza, pot sticker, wonton

c

: a usually baked dessert of fruit wrapped in dough

apple dumplings

2

: something soft and rounded like a dumpling

especially : a plump person or animal often of short stature

I wanted to do it [rowing] because it was something I had never heard of. I was a little dumpling as well. I wanted to lose weight.

—Spencer Turrin, quoted in The Daily Telegraph (England)

Examples of dumpling in a Sentence

We had vegetarian dumplings as an appetizer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ed Baldwin’s good dumpling Lee Jung-Gil has defected, and Ed was convicted in absentia for his role in Ayesa’s 7 but remains on pretty chill house arrest at Happy Valley due to health concerns. —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026

Frozen dumplings are a favorite among Chambers, the Test Kitchen, and me, great as a snack or meal starter in a pinch. —Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026

The hardest part is deciding on an entree — everything here, from the rice or wheat dumplings to the lemony chicken tawa to the kabobs, is fabulous. —Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2026

This mystery dumpling craze parallels that of plushy Labubu dolls, which became a worldwide sensation last year after Lisa, a performer in K-pop group Blackpink, was spotted sporting the toy. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of lump

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

dumpling

noun

dump·​ling ˈdəm-pliŋ 

1

: a portion of dough cooked by boiling or steaming

2

: a dessert of fruit baked in biscuit dough