noun

sherbet

SHUR-buht

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Sherbet (noun) means a frozen dessert of fruit juice or puree with a small amount of dairy added, milder and creamier than a sorbet. Example: “We had raspberry sherbet for dessert on the hottest day of summer.”

noun

A frozen dessert of fruit juice or puree with a small amount of dairy added, milder and creamier than a sorbet.

"We had raspberry sherbet for dessert on the hottest day of summer."

A fizzy powder of sugar and bicarbonate of soda, eaten on its own or made into a drink.

"The kids dipped their lollipops into a bag of sherbet."

A traditional sweet drink from West and South Asia, made from fruit or flower petals.

"Cold rose sherbet was served to guests at the wedding."

How to use sherbet

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA frozen fruit dessert (British usage) or, in some regions, a sweet flavoured drink or fizzy powder.

UK vs US

In the UK, sherbet is usually the fizzy sweet powder; the creamy frozen dessert is more common in American usage, similar to sorbet.

Common pairings

sherbet lemon raspberry sherbet a bag of sherbet

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: sherbets

Test yourself on “sherbet” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

We had raspberry _____ for dessert on the hottest day of summer.

Etymology

Borrowed via Ottoman Turkish and Persian from Arabic sharba ("a drink"), from the verb "to drink." A doublet of sorbet and sharbat.

Origin: Arabic

Synonyms

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sherbert

Frequently asked questions

What does “sherbet” mean?

The word “sherbet” means a frozen dessert of fruit juice or puree with a small amount of dairy added, milder and creamier than a sorbet. In plain terms, a frozen fruit dessert (British usage) or, in some regions, a sweet flavoured drink or fizzy powder.

How do you pronounce “sherbet”?

“Sherbet” is pronounced SHUR-buht (/ˈʃɝ.bət/ in IPA).

How do you use “sherbet” in a sentence?

Here is “sherbet” used in a sentence: “We had raspberry sherbet for dessert on the hottest day of summer.”

What part of speech is “sherbet”?

“Sherbet” is a noun.

Where does the word “sherbet” come from?

The word “sherbet” comes from Arabic. Borrowed via Ottoman Turkish and Persian from Arabic sharba ("a drink"), from the verb "to drink." A doublet of sorbet and sharbat.

How many meanings does “sherbet” have?

“Sherbet” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a frozen dessert of fruit juice or puree with a small amount of dairy added, milder and creamier than a sorbet.

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Words with Arabic origins