custard

noun

cus·​tard ˈkə-stərd How to pronounce custard (audio)
plural custards
: a cooked mixture made of eggs and milk or cream and usually having a thick, creamy consistency
By the eighteenth century it had become the dessert we know today: a layered treat of sponge cake, custard, fruit, jam, whipped cream and spirits.—Bon Appétit
We toss a laurel wreath to the chefs for their … pastitsio and moussaka, both of which sported a savory custard topping.—Greg Morago et al.
Smooth and creamy, custard lends itself to a range of both sweet and savory dishes.—Gabrielle Shaughness
custardy
ˈkə-stər-dē How to pronounce custard (audio)
adjective

Examples of custard in a Sentence

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.
Return pie to oven and bake 15 to 20 minutes more, till custard is just set with slight wobble in center. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 Choose from dark or light gray, or grab it in other fall-ready colors including varsity red, coffee brown, and custard yellow. — Mariana Best, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 The creamy consistency gives the pie a dreamy texture, with little pops of crunch from the passionfruit seeds flecked throughout the custard. — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026 At Café Central, homemade bread, light snacks, and pastries—beloved pasteis de nata (custard tarts)—are available. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for custard

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, a kind of pie, alteration of crustarde, crustade, probably from Anglo-French *crustade, from cruste crust, from Latin crusta — more at crust

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of custard was circa 1616

Phrases Containing custard

Rhymes for custard

See All Rhymes for custard

Browse Nearby Words

cussword
custard
custard apple
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Custard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/custard. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

custard

noun
cus·​tard ˈkəs-tərd How to pronounce custard (audio)
: a sweetened mixture of milk and eggs baked, boiled, or frozen

More from Merriam-Webster on custard

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about custard

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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