pastry

noun

pas·​try ˈpā-strē 

plural pastries

1

a

: a dough that is used to make pies and other baked goods and typically has a high fat content : paste sense 1a

b

: usually sweet baked goods made of dough having a high fat content

a plate of tempting pastry

see danish pastry, french pastry

2

: a piece of pastry

I had a pastry and a cup of tea.

Examples of pastry in a Sentence

He worked on the filling while I prepared the pastry.

She had a pastry and coffee for breakfast.

Recent Examples on the Web

And many can be made without pastry dough. —Malaka Gharib, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025

There’s also the crisp morning strolls past the gurgling Clunie Water to The Bothy, where coffee and fresh pastries await; the area’s fascinating history, deeply intertwined with the Royal Family; and the community’s embrace of all things outdoors. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2025

Created by James Beard Award winner and Bottega’s former pastry chef, Dolester Miles, the cake itself is speckled with ground pecans, which add texture and sweetness, which are brushed with simple syrup. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025

At the same time, the designer continued to expand the narrative around the label with tie-ups with historic pastry shop Cova and supporting British artist Rachel Hobkirk by staging an exhibition in Milan and releasing the dedicated catalogue earlier this year. —Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

paste entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pastry

• choux pastry
• Danish pastry
• French pastry
• pastry cream
• puff pastry

Kids Definition

pastry

noun

past·​ry

ˈpā-strē

plural pastries

1

: sweet baked goods (as cakes or tarts) made of dough or having a crust made of enriched dough

2

: a piece of pastry