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

Some readers just want to pick up bagels and whip up something satisfying and filling. —Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025

The menu includes a variety of breakfast and lunch bagel sandwiches, including a lox, pastrami, egg and cheese, and a turkey club. —Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Oct. 2025

Lady Gaga sat down with Stephen Colbert for a deep dive on her career, her earliest days performing in New York City, her desire to start a family, and her perfect bagel order on The Late Show. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025

Rotating schmear flavors at bagel shop At PopUp Bagels, schmear flavors rotate on a weekly basis. —Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 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