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

Grab a pastry, then go for a wander Start the day with a flaky, chewy chocolate croissant and a coffee at Symple, a cafe with spacious outdoor seating shaded by a large tree in the charming Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood. —Valeriya Safronova, New York Times, 1 May 2025

Yes, there should be a teapot in the equation, but the real draw is the spread: a slew of tiny sandwiches; sweet and buttery pastries (like Bon Appétit Bake Club’s Coffee Cake Scones); and the extravagance of fancy china, teacups, and a tiered pastry stand for good measure. —Oset Babür-Winter, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2025

Eventually that room will be used for the advanced Culinary 3 program featuring baking and pastry. —Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 1 May 2025

When you are done, grab a pastry from Balthazar’s bakery next door. —Bea McMonagle, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 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