Search Dictionary
Definition of gingerbread

gingerbread

/ˈdʒɪn.dʒɚˌbrɛd/
gin · ger · bread
Plural:gingerbreads
JUMP TO:

gingerbread Lexical Profile

gingerbread Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A baked sweet food, typically a cake or a firm cookie, flavored with ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and sweetened with molasses, honey, or treacle.

Example

"The children spent the snowy afternoon decorating a gingerbread house with colorful candies and white icing."

2

Elaborate, showy, or superfluous architectural ornamentation, particularly the intricately carved woodwork often seen on Victorian houses.

Example

"The historic mansion featured steeply pitched roofs adorned with delicate wooden gingerbread."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for gingerbread

• Nearby Words

gin
ginger
ginger lily
gingerbread
gingerliness
gingerly
gingerroot

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old French 'gingenbras' (preserved ginger), via Medieval Latin 'zingiber'. In Middle English, it was altered by folk etymology to end in '-bread' due to the substance's association with baked goods.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gingerbread. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gingerbread
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.