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

The Dirty Martini flavor will be available at all PopUp bagel locations through June 4 and is now available for preorder. —Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025

The breakfast bagel sandwich will be available on the weekends starting at 10 a.m. through May 31. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2025

In spring training, Francis and Jenna made sourdough bagels. —Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 21 May 2025

In August 2020, Heller started selling bagels and sandwiches, pop-up style at Paulie Gee’s pizzeria in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where its popularity offered proof of concept. —Gary Stern, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025

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

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bagel

noun

ba·​gel ˈbā-gəl 

: a firm doughnut-shaped roll