brioche

American  

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

noun

plural

brioches

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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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

In the kitchen, Kai rolls out dough for buckwheat brioche bread paired with 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

Instead of the usual freeze-dried nutrients that astronauts eat, Adenot, 42, will be choosing from the likes of "Foie gras cream on toasted brioche" and "Lobster bisque with crab and caraway".

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2025

But long before the sound of their lowing and the sight of their preening, the building was leased to a Hungarian baker, modestly famous for his brioche and poppy-seed rolls.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison