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

The ridged, multi-layered sourdough crisps come in Asiago & Cheddar and Melting Romano flavors. —Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2025

These include everything from Swift’s sourdough obsession (Santa Clara is outside San Francisco, which is famous for its sourdough bread) to her love of numerology (Levi’s Stadium is the home of the San Francisco 49ers, and four plus nine equals 13 — Swift’s favorite number). —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025

The sourdough’s out of oven and was indeed overproofed. —R29 Team, Refinery29, 29 Aug. 2025

In addition to sourdough, De Jager — also a full-time veterinarian recruiter — planned to bake other goods, including bagels. —Jordan Greene, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025

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