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

Delicate, enriched breads like brioche or challah will dry out quickly, and crusty breads like sourdough, baguettes, and bagels can lose their crisp exteriors and become tough. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 24 May 2026

Another example is the surface of a torus, which resembles a bagel or donut. —Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 23 May 2026

The Atlanta bagel brand has two stand-alone locations in the airport, a smaller space in Concourse T and a larger counter at Gate A16. —Kate Williams, AJC.com, 22 May 2026

Opened in 2019 after years of anticipation surrounding Downtown Commons, Solomon’s debuted as a contemporary Jewish deli and bagel shop before cycling through multiple reinventions, including Solomon’s Vinyl Diner under new ownership in 2023. —Reeti Malhotra may 22, Sacbee.com, 22 May 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