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

Plus, vote for your favorite gingerbread house in Shaker Village’s inaugural gingerbread contest. —Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Dec. 2025

Finish your meal with a Christmas trifle made with eggnog crème, gingerbread and a mini wafer. —Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 11 Dec. 2025

Free This December, The Ballantyne transforms into a holiday wonderland with Gingerbread Lane, featuring stunning gingerbread creations and a life-size Cocoa House serving festive drinks. —Charlottefive Staff, Charlotte Observer, 10 Dec. 2025

It's made to embody a gingerbread house, with a liftable roof where the candle hides. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 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