brioche

American  

[bree-ohsh, -osh, bree-awsh] / ˈbri oʊʃ, -ɒʃ, briˈɔʃ /

noun

brioches plural

1. a light, sweet bun or roll made with eggs, yeast, and butter.

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brioche British  

/ ˈbriːəʊʃ, -ɒʃ, briɔʃ /

noun

1. a soft roll or loaf made from a very light yeast dough, sometimes mixed with currants

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• brioches
  plural

Etymology

Origin of brioche

1820–30; < French, Middle French (Norman dial.), equivalent to bri ( er ) to knead (< Germanic; see break) + -oche noun suffix

Explanation

Brioche is a soft, slightly sweet French bread made with butter and eggs. A toasted slice of brioche slathered with jam would make a delicious afternoon snack. Brioche, like challah or fluffy dinner rolls, is enriched — that means it's a yeast bread with extra ingredients that give it a richer flavor and a tender texture. You can eat brioche for breakfast, use it for sandwiches, or turn it into French toast or bread pudding after it's gone a bit stale. The first use of brioche in French dates from the 15th century, and the word derives from brier, "to knead the dough."

Example Sentences

The BBC has contacted Brioche Pasquier for comment.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

Brioche can be tricky to make, because there is so much butter involved.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 12, 2023

Brioche and challah are our go-to loaves because of their sweet, eggy flavor.

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2022

Brioche tarts, spelt blueberry muffins, Meyer lemon pies, quiche, brown butter chocolate chip cookies, buckwheat oatmeal cookies with candied ginger, 100% rye brownies, macha conchas, curry pies and kaiser rolls. 

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2016

Brioche when a few days old may be used instead of bread.

From Desserts and Salads by Lemcke, Gesine