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

A savory, deeply indulgent twist on the cinnamon roll: pillowy brioche spiraled with a silky, peppery cheese filling that melts into something glossy and rich.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

Small plates with buckwheat brioche and whipped herb butter.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

These folks are way beyond asking if the boulangeries are out of brioche as well as baguettes.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 2, 2026

Meyer likes a brioche bun, preferably with sesame seeds: “It’s important that it’s sturdy, but soft enough so teeth glide through.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

I went in and stood at the zinc bar and an old man served me a glass of white wine and a brioche.

From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway