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 new menu items will be served in limited-edition packaging that’s illustrated with gingerbread-style Munchkins, which are storybook-style characters of Dunkin' Munchkin donut holes, but are wearing seasonal outfits. —Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025

Gingerbread house Save the candy in a zip-top bag for freshness and reserve for decorating gingerbread houses around the holidays. —Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025

Visitors can also witness the unveiling of Plant Riverside’s life-size gingerbread house on November 28, a creation by the property’s award-winning pastry team. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025

In fact, the dog's name was even featured on the couple's Halloween gingerbread house in 2022, per The Sun. —Sydni Ellis, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 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