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

Beginners should try this no-knead bread recipe from the BA Bake Club, while advanced bakers might want to move on to sourdough. —Emily Johnson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025

Williams largely restricted his diet to eggs, rice, applesauce, and sourdough bread. —Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025

Lunch is bean salad and sourdough. —R29 Team, Refinery29, 19 Sep. 2025

Fisherman’s chowder or clam chowder, served in sourdough bread, so good! —Jessica Peralta, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 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