pastry

noun

pas·​try ˈpā-strē How to pronounce pastry (audio)
plural pastries
Synonyms of pastrynext
1
a
: a dough that is used to make pies and other baked goods and typically has a high fat content : paste sense 1a
b
: usually sweet baked goods made of dough having a high fat content
a plate of tempting pastry
see also danish pastry, french pastry
2
: a piece of pastry
I had a pastry and a cup of tea.

Examples of pastry in a Sentence

He worked on the filling while I prepared the pastry. She had a pastry and coffee for breakfast.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The savory vol-au-vent with pear and onion jam, tart tamarind and pecorino cheese is ambitious, but the pastry itself was a bit heavy, the layers not quite flaky enough for the abundant stuffing. — Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026 This week in the Atlanta restaurant scene, a local meat market won a big prize, two women were hired to prominent pastry chef roles, a handful of restaurants announced openings and more. — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Insider tip Don’t sleep on the French pastries on the breakfast buffet, including pain au chocolat and buttery madeleines. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026 No trip to Jackson would be complete without a stop at Persephone, the charming bakery, coffee shop, and cafe that was a 2020 James Beard award nominee for best pastry chef. — Lindsay Cohn, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pastry

Word History

Etymology

paste entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of pastry was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing pastry

Browse Nearby Words

pastrami
pastry
pastry bag
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pastry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pastry. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pastry

noun
past·​ry
ˈpā-strē
plural pastries
1
: sweet baked goods (as cakes or tarts) made of dough or having a crust made of enriched dough
2
: a piece of pastry

More from Merriam-Webster on pastry

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pastry

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pastry

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