Pretzel Definition & Meaning

American

British

Usage

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms pretzel American [pret-suhl] / ˈprɛt səl /

noun

1. a crisp, dry biscuit, usually in the form of a knot or stick, salted on the outside.

2. a larger version of this, made of soft, chewy bread dough.

pretzel British / ˈprɛtsəl /

noun

1. a brittle savoury biscuit, in the form of a knot or stick, glazed and salted on the outside, eaten esp in Germany and the US

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does pretzel logic mean? Pretzel logic is an expression used to describe someone's "twisted reasoning."

Etymology

Origin of pretzel

1815–25, < German Pretzel, variant of Bretzel; Old High German brizzila < Medieval Latin bracellus bracelet

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Snacks net sales fell 6%, driven partially by declines in chips and pretzels.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Um, because I was hungry, and he knew where I could get a soft pretzel.”

From Literature

Some have gathered to re-create the pretzel scene on the escalator, or to take selfies outside.

From The Wall Street Journal

The air smelled like car exhaust but also food from nearby hot dog and pretzel vendors.

From Literature

A capsized tent floated past, its metal poles twisted like a pretzel.

From Literature

Related Words

• biscuit
• cookie

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.