: 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
Menu highlights at locations include bagels, breakfast items, scones, and a bevy of breads like its rye hearth loaf, rye pretzels, baguettes, country loafs and more.
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Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 3 June 2025
The novelty marks the latest addition to the brand’s popular ‘Food Lovers’ series featuring fries, pretzels, dumplings and ravioli.
—Stephanie Hirschmiller, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
The chain also sells snacks like pretzel bites and sandwiches such as a spicy queso sandwich.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 23 May 2025
The screw tool attachment is your ally to remove everything from pretzels to change from car seats and couch cushions.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Apr. 2025
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Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 3 June 2025
The novelty marks the latest addition to the brand’s popular ‘Food Lovers’ series featuring fries, pretzels, dumplings and ravioli.
—Stephanie Hirschmiller, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
The chain also sells snacks like pretzel bites and sandwiches such as a spicy queso sandwich.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 23 May 2025
The screw tool attachment is your ally to remove everything from pretzels to change from car seats and couch cushions.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretzel
Cite this Entry
“Pretzel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretzel. Accessed 10 Jun. 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.
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