: 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 lunch comes with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a fruit cup, carrots, pretzels, sparkling water and two packs of M&M’S PB&J (one for you, and one to trade with a friend).
—
Victoria Edel, People.com, 23 July 2025
Traditional Bavarian fare like roast chicken, pork knuckle, pretzels, and sausages is served everywhere, and many visitors dress in traditional clothing.
—Lea Dlugosch, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2025
Think ingredients like corn flakes, pretzels, marshmallows, crispy rice, and more.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 July 2025
The Circuit Board is a must: country ham, handmade buttermilk biscuits, hatch pepper cheese, pickles, ranch pretzels, seasonal fruit butter and barrel-aged maple butter pair perfectly with a strong libation.
—Michelle Stark, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 July 2025
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Victoria Edel, People.com, 23 July 2025
Traditional Bavarian fare like roast chicken, pork knuckle, pretzels, and sausages is served everywhere, and many visitors dress in traditional clothing.
—Lea Dlugosch, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2025
Think ingredients like corn flakes, pretzels, marshmallows, crispy rice, and more.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 July 2025
The Circuit Board is a must: country ham, handmade buttermilk biscuits, hatch pepper cheese, pickles, ranch pretzels, seasonal fruit butter and barrel-aged maple butter pair perfectly with a strong libation.
—Michelle Stark, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 July 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 29 Jul. 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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