# baker's dozen

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/bakers-dozen
Updated: 2026-08-18

## Meaning

Thirteen; a group of thirteen.

## Examples

- She asked for a dozen, but he gave her a baker's dozen.
- The bakery always throws in an extra cookie, so you get a baker's dozen instead of twelve.
- In the cramped kitchen, the old baker counted out a baker's dozen of warm rolls, wrapping them carefully for the widow who had lost her husband to the winter cold.

## Origin

Possibly from the former practice of bakers adding a thirteenth loaf of bread to a batch of twelve loaves in order to avoid punishment for accidentally selling underweight bread. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.