doughnut

noun

dough·​nut ˈdō-(ˌ)nət 

variants or less commonly donut

1

: a small usually ring-shaped piece of sweet fried dough

2

: something (such as a mathematical torus) that has a round shape like a doughnut

3

: a controlled skid that sends an automobile into a tight circle of at least 360 degrees

—usually used in the phrase do doughnuts

Doing doughnuts? You haven't heard about this? This is what they steal the cars for. Top speed, they slam on the brakes, yank the emergency brake, twist the steering wheel, and the car starts spinning. Wheeling the car in circles at tremendous speeds.

—Philip Roth

doughnutlike

ˈdō-(ˌ)nət-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of doughnut in a Sentence

drawing doughnuts in the sand

Recent Examples on the Web

Here's how to get a free Krispy Kreme doughnut on July 4. —Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 4 July 2025

For instance, some popular brands contain as much sugar as a doughnut. —Fred Sassani, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

To celebrate the Fourth, the coffee and doughnut chain also launched a new Stars, Stripes & Sweetness Collection featuring three limited-time doughnuts: Freedom Ring doughnut: Glazed doughnut dipped in white icing, blue sprinkles and white stars. —Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 2 July 2025

More than a dozen lawsuits have been filed since against the doughnut giant. —Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

dough + nut entry 1 (in sense "rounded cake or biscuit," as in ginger nut, spice nut)

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for doughnut

• abut
• catgut
• chesnut
• chestnut
• donut
• groundnut
• haircut
• hindgut
• midgut
• precut
• rebut
• recut

Kids Definition

doughnut

noun

dough·​nut

variants also donut

-(ˌ)nət

1

: a small ring of sweet dough fried in fat

2

: something resembling a doughnut especially in shape