# gingerbread

/ˈdʒɪndʒɝˌbɹɛd/ (US) · /dʒˈɪndʒəbɹˌɛd/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gingerbread
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

a sweet cake or cookie that is flavored with ginger and usually sweetened with honey or molasses. It is often used to make holiday treats like little people shapes or small houses.

For teachers: a baked confection flavoured with ginger and sweetened with treacle, molasses, or honey. It ranges in texture from a soft sponge cake to a firm, crisp biscuit used for structural edible models.

## Examples

- We baked a batch of gingerbread cookies for the holiday party.
- The children spent the afternoon decorating a gingerbread house with gumdrops and white icing.
- Traditional European gingerbread recipes often incorporate a complex blend of spices including cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg to complement the sharp heat of the ginger.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the cake or material; countable when referring to individual items like 'gingerbreads' is rare, as 'gingerbread cookies' is preferred.

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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.