: a brittle or chewy glazed usually salted slender bread often shaped like a loose knot
Examples of pretzel in a Sentence
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The partnership between dark chocolate and pretzels offers a nice balance of sweet and salty flavors.
—
Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 14 May 2026
Order the sachertorte with a glass of wine, but add a warm pretzel for good measure.
—Riza Cruz, Vogue, 14 May 2026
And that hummus and pretzels can be a solid backup plan.
—Karla Walsh, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
The saltiness of the pretzels complemented the coffee flavor perfectly.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 May 2026
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Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 14 May 2026
Order the sachertorte with a glass of wine, but add a warm pretzel for good measure.
—Riza Cruz, Vogue, 14 May 2026
And that hummus and pretzels can be a solid backup plan.
—Karla Walsh, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
The saltiness of the pretzels complemented the coffee flavor perfectly.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretzel
Cite this Entry
“Pretzel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretzel. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pretzel
noun
pret·zel
ˈpret-səl 
: a brown cracker that is salted and usually hard and shaped like a loose knot
Etymology
from German Brezel "pretzel," derived from Latin brachiatus (adjective) "having branches like arms," from brachium, "arm" — related to brace entry 2
Word Origin
Pretzels were probably first made in the U.S. during the 19th century by immigrants from Germany. The English word pretzel comes from the German Brezel. The familiar knot-shaped pretzel has been known in Germanic countries for centuries. Its German name comes from the Latin brachiatus, which means "having branches like arms." The pretzel likely got its name because its knot shape looks something like a pair of folded arms.
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