pumpernickel

noun

pum·​per·​nick·​el ˈpəm-pər-ˌni-kəl 

: a dark coarse sourdough bread made of unbolted rye flour

Examples of pumpernickel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The sandwiches are named with references to art, such as the Van Gogh made with roast beef, fresh dill, Havarti cheese, sprouts and deli mustard on pumpernickel bread; or the hot Picasso made with savory meatballs, provolone cheese and Mama Cosenza’s original Italian sauce on an 8-inch baguette. —Endia Fontanez, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Healthier bread options include whole wheat, sourdough, spelt, rye, and pumpernickel. —Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 28 Aug. 2025

Its specialty is steamed hoagies, an East Tennessee sandwich style served on seriously soft bread — white or pumpernickel rye — from Nashville's Charpier's Custom Bakery. —Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

Grains like amaranth, bran, buckwheat, bulgar, pumpernickel, rye, whole grains, whole spelt, whole wheat, steel cut oatmeal, brown and wild rice, buckwheat, and quinoa. —Mara Santilli, SELF, 27 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

German, from pumpern to break wind + Nickel goblin; from its reputed indigestibility

First Known Use

1738, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pumpernickel

• fickle
• mickle
• nickel
• nickle
• nicol
• pickle
• prickle
• sickle
• tickle
• trickle
• ventricle

Kids Definition

pumpernickel

noun

pum·​per·​nick·​el ˈpəm-pər-ˌnik-əl 

: a dark coarse somewhat sour rye bread