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

Dense forest envelops its cobblestone streets, funky gingerbread houses, and colorful staircases. —AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025

These all-natural treats are flavored with festive ginger and cinnamon, offering a delicious scent that will match your own homemade gingerbread cookies. —Christine Persaud, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025

During the end-of-year holiday season, there's Christmas tree lighting, breakfast with Santa, gingerbread house workshops, and Tommy the Real Elf experiences. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025

Entries for its 2025 Annual National Gingerbread House Competition are now being accepted, after it the event was canceled last year — though the inn put gingerbread displays all around Asheville instead. —Charlotte Observer, 26 Sep. 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