sourdough

noun

sour·​dough ˈsau̇(-ə)r-ˌdō 

sense 1 is also -ˈdō

1

: a leaven consisting of dough in which fermentation is active

2

[from the use of sourdough for making bread in prospectors' camps] : a veteran inhabitant and especially an old-time prospector of Alaska or northwestern Canada

Examples of sourdough in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When Solawave entered the market in 2020—just as at-home everything, including sourdough bread-making, picked up steam—there were two kinds of at-home devices available to consumers, according to Andrew Silberstein, CEO and founder of Solawave. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 14 July 2026

Use them on top of toasts, such as a slice of sourdough topped with ricotta cheese, sliced strawberries, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. — Anthea Levi, Health, 10 July 2026

If pizza is more your vibe, Inland makes incredible craft pies out of sourdough and goes all in with its toppings. — Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026

Think of it as functional floor art that can still stand up to soup spills and sourdough baking. — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 9 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sourdough

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

sourdough

noun

sour·​dough ˈsau̇(ə)r-ˌdō 

1

: a dough in which fermentation is active and which is used to start fermentation in other dough (as in making bread)

2

: an old-time prospector in Alaska or northwestern Canada