: a brittle or chewy glazed usually salted slender bread often shaped like a loose knot
Examples of pretzel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The two girls also enjoyed some classic Disney snacks — a hot pretzel and churro — while Bennett posed with mom Kylie.
—
Kayla Grant, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025
Other items, including the $2 Cinnabon footlong churro and the $3 Auntie Anne's footlong pretzel, made their debut the same month.
—Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
The ad, part of the infamous Adrien Brody episode, stars Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph in pastel polos and boxy vests prancing around and pouring pretzels, donning knee-length shorts for a special date night.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
The pretzels were soft and buttery with a cheese sauce that was mild but delicious.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pretzel 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kayla Grant, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025
Other items, including the $2 Cinnabon footlong churro and the $3 Auntie Anne's footlong pretzel, made their debut the same month.
—Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
The ad, part of the infamous Adrien Brody episode, stars Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph in pastel polos and boxy vests prancing around and pouring pretzels, donning knee-length shorts for a special date night.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
The pretzels were soft and buttery with a cheese sauce that was mild but delicious.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pretzel
Articles Related to pretzel
Dictionary Entries Near pretzel
Cite this Entry
“Pretzel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretzel. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
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.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share