lager

noun

la·​ger ˈlä-gər How to pronounce lager (audio)
variants or lager beer
plural lagers or lager beers
: a beer (such as a bock or pilsner) that is brewed at cool temperatures by slow fermentation with a slow-acting yeast (especially Saccharomyces pastorianus synonym S. carlsbergensis)

Note: Lagers tend to have a lighter, clearer appearance than ales with a usually lower alcohol content and slightly higher sugar content. The yeast used to ferment lager is often referred to as "bottom-fermenting" since it does not rise to the top of the brewing vessel during fermentation.

Known for being crisper, cleaner and more refreshing than ales, lagers are lighter in body and alcohol while being moderate to high in carbonation.Kara Newman
All true lagers are aged before consumption. Lager in fact comes from the German word meaning to store.Dave Martin
Lager beer had developed in Central Europe and probably was introduced in the United States by Philadelphia brewer John Wagner …Donna R. Gabaccia

Examples of lager in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In addition to a beer menu rife with IPAs and lagers, the business will also feature a boutique distillery producing gin and vodka. Brandon Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026 The award-winning brewery, which has a focus on making accessible beers that include lagers, hop-forward IPAs and seltzers, will be brewing on site as well. Richard Guzman, Daily News, 26 May 2026 There was John Elway, one of the greatest quarterbacks the sport has known, standing atop the balcony of his eighth-floor hotel room — Cuban cigar in his left hand, American lager in his right, South Florida rain in his eyes — reflecting on the final game of his storied football career. Michael Silver, New York Times, 21 May 2026 That might mean booking a chance to buy beer from Belgian monks who like to keep things quiet, or relaxing on a Tuscan farm with a lager made from hops grown nearby. Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for lager

Word History

Etymology

German Lagerbier beer made for storage, from Lager storehouse + Bier beer

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lager was in 1852

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Cite this Entry

“Lager.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lager. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

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