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

July 12 is sourdough breads and muffins from Plum Tree Bakery; July 19 is organic sourdough breads and rolls from Mathildes Pantry; and July 26 is oatmeal cream pies from Mile High Cream Pies. — Jonathan Shikes, Denver Post, 7 July 2026

There’s always a line at Beckmann’s Old World Bakery for sourdough loaves and strawberry pies, and food trucks offer everything from Brazilian barbecue to homemade kombucha to British sausage rolls. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

People have been starving for months, and Rhaenyra just handed someone a half-loaf of sourdough and four apples. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026

Even more than Stinnerbom’s cardamom bun — which some praise as the best in Oslo — the more elemental cinnamon notes, enhanced with lemon zest and juice, allow the sourdough’s multifaceted dimensions to come through. — Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 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