gingerbread

noun

gin·​ger·​bread ˈjin-jər-ˌbred 

1

: a cake whose ingredients include molasses and ginger

2

[from the fancy shapes and gilding formerly often applied to gingerbread] : lavish or superfluous ornament especially in architecture

gingerbread adjective

gingerbreaded

ˈjin-jər-ˌbre-dəd 

adjective

gingerbready

ˈjin-jər-ˌbre-dē 

adjective

Examples of gingerbread in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Choose from bow, candy cane, gingerbread house, and Christmas tree patterns. — Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2026

This year’s edition is shaped like Christian Dior’s famous lucky star, with an enchanted studio filled with gingerbread gowns hiding inside. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2026

Gingerbread Place Card Holders Set Greet your winter dinner guests with cheerful gingerbread place card holders. — Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2026

After all, mixing, cutting, baking, and decorating gingerbread all in one go is tiring. — Jillian Pretzel, Parents, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gingerbread

• gingerbread man

Rhymes for gingerbread

• abovesaid
• aforesaid
• arrowhead
• casinghead
• copperhead
• figurehead
• fountainhead
• hammerhead
• infrared
• leatherhead
• letterhead
• loggerhead

Kids Definition

gingerbread

noun

gin·​ger·​bread ˈjin-jər-ˌbred 

1

: a cake made with molasses and flavored with ginger

2

: showy ornamentation especially in architecture

gingerbread adjective