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

Whenever someone brings doughnuts into the office, there are always a few people who cut a doughnut in half and leave one half in the box. — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2026

Krispy Kreme turns 89 years old this week and the popular doughnut chain is celebrating by offering customers a deal on its most iconic menu item. — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 14 July 2026

Coconut Caramel doughnuts, reminiscent of Girl Scout's Caramel deLites or Samoas cookies, feature coconut and caramel flavors alongside a chocolate icing. — Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 7 July 2026

Chat up the people behind the region’s small ranches and orchards – Arata Farms, Kai’s Fresh Asian Produce, Alhambra Valley Beef & Pears – while enjoying live music and treats like fresh mini-doughnuts and Hawaiian-style popcorn. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

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

Phrases Containing doughnut

• doughnut hole

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