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

Things to do ☀️ New York-style bagels, a fresh manicure and a massage in the back of a sushi restaurant are on the agenda for ‘Scrubs’ actor Judy Reyes on her perfect Sunday. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026

An alligator with a goofy sense of humor crawled through the back door of a North Carolina bagel shop, then stood at the front counter as if waiting to take someone’s order. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026

By the late 1800s, bagels had traveled across Europe and crossed the Atlantic with Eastern European Jewish immigrants. — HubSpot, 30 Oct. 2026

Since its opening in 2024, the bakery has become well-known for its savory bagel sandwiches. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 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