pickle

1 of 3

noun (1)

pick·​le ˈpi-kəl 

1

: a solution or bath for preserving or cleaning: such as

a

: a brine or vinegar solution in which foods are preserved

b

: any of various baths used in industrial cleaning or processing

2

: a difficult situation : plight

I could see no way out of the pickle I was in …

—Robert Louis Stevenson

3

: an article of food that has been preserved in brine or in vinegar

specifically : a cucumber that has been so preserved

pickle

2 of 3

verb

pickled; pickling ˈpi-k(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to treat, preserve, or clean in or with a pickle

2

: to give a light finish to (something, such as furniture) by bleaching or painting and wiping

pickle

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

Scotland : grain, kernel

2

Scotland : a small quantity

Synonyms of pickle

Noun (1)

• predicament
• dilemma
• hole
• bind
• swamp
• jam

Examples of pickle in a Sentence

Noun (1)

well, this is a bit of a pickle we've gotten ourselves into

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The dinner menu spotlights the local bounty and skews Mediterranean with standouts such as the laffa (a chewier pita) with baba ganoush or a spicy carrot harissa dip and lamb sliders with mango jam and shallot pickle. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

At Miznon, fresh pita is filled with a falafel burger, tangy pickles, tomato, sour cream, and green chili peppers. —Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026

Verb

Classes planned for July include preserving and pickling foods by water bath canning, using and storing herbs, beekeeping and cold brew iced teas with Southeast Asian flavors from Mahal Tea Company. —Annie Alleman, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026

The plant produces edible summer fruit with red or yellow flesh and a rind that can be eaten raw or pickled. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English pykyl, pekill sauce, gravy, from or akin to Middle Dutch peeckel brine

Noun (2)

perhaps from Scots pickle to trifle, pilfer

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pickle

• dill pickle

Rhymes for pickle

• druidical
• fickle
• mickle
• nickel
• nickle
• nicol
• prickle
• sickle
• tickle
• trickle
• microscopical
• ventricle

Kids Definition

pickle

1 of 2 noun

pick·​le ˈpik-əl 

1

: a liquid used for preserving or cleaning

especially : a saltwater or vinegar solution in which foods are preserved : brine

2

: an unpleasant or difficult situation : plight

3

: an article of food (as a cucumber) preserved in a saltwater or vinegar solution

pickle

2 of 2 verb

pickled; pickling ˈpik-(ə-)liŋ 

: to treat, preserve, or clean in or with a pickle