- a variation of doughnut.
donut
Americannoun
noun
Usage
Spelling tips for donut The word donut is hard to spell because it is a simplified spelling of the earlier doughnut. How to spell donut: The easiest way to spell donut is to break it into two parts: do - nut. As in, do nut (not) eat the last donut!
Compare meaning
How does donut compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A donut is a round, deep fried cake, usually with a hole in the center. Your favorite breakfast might be a chocolate donut and a cup of coffee. The word donut is primarily used in the US as an alternative spelling to "doughnut." Either way you spell it, a donut is a delicious, sweet treat that's often glazed or iced, and comes in different varieties, including donuts filled with jelly or cream. Donut historians disagree about the origin of the fried delicacy, although there's consensus that "dough-nuts" were first mentioned in print in 1808, while the donut spelling became popular about 100 years later.
Vocabulary lists containing donut
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She excelled at online learning, which she could do quietly from a corner in Leffler’s office, and was well-liked at the grocery store and donut shop where she worked.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
The company updated the brand’s logo and packaging, launched a new marketing campaign targeting millennials and Gen Z consumers and rolled out $1 packs of key donut and cake products.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Shares of Krispy Kreme were headed for a historic gain Thursday after the donut seller beat fourth-quarter profit expectations by the widest margin in years, and provided an upbeat sales growth outlook.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 26, 2026
In a throwback to the 1990s, Ben Affleck returns for donut brand Dunkin' alongside Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc and Jason Alexander.
From Barron's ● Feb. 6, 2026
“It’s a day old, but it takes a lot for a donut to go bad. Crystal brought home some almond tortes, too, but I know you don’t like almond stuff.”
From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
