gingerbread

noun

gin·​ger·​bread ˈjin-jər-ˌbred 

1

: a cake whose ingredients include molasses and ginger

2

[from the fancy shapes and gilding formerly often applied to gingerbread] : lavish or superfluous ornament especially in architecture

gingerbread adjective

gingerbreaded

ˈjin-jər-ˌbre-dəd 

adjective

gingerbready

ˈjin-jər-ˌbre-dē 

adjective

Examples of gingerbread in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The easiest way to see the gingerbread creations is to stay at the property. —Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2025

When the perfect tree ends up being on Alma’s family land, Charlie stays in town eating pastries at Ricki Lake’s patisserie and crashing a gingerbread house-making contest while the two navigate their attraction to each other and their seemingly conflicting goals. —Sarah Neilson, Them., 17 Nov. 2025

Hudson's mind may have opened to the world of gingerbread houses, though his living room in Los Angeles did not. —Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 17 Nov. 2025

With a slate of holiday parties coming up, Figueroa is adding seasonal coffees to his menu, flavored with gingerbread, white chocolate and peppermint. —Sacbee.com, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gingerbread

• gingerbread man

Rhymes for gingerbread

• abovesaid
• aforesaid
• arrowhead
• casinghead
• copperhead
• figurehead
• fountainhead
• hammerhead
• infrared
• leatherhead
• letterhead
• loggerhead

Kids Definition

gingerbread

noun

gin·​ger·​bread ˈjin-jər-ˌbred 

1

: a cake made with molasses and flavored with ginger

2

: showy ornamentation especially in architecture

gingerbread adjective