pilsner

noun

pil·​sner ˈpil-snər 

ˈpilz-nər, 

ˈpil-zə-nər 

variants or pilsener

plural pilsners or pilseners

1

: a lager with a strong flavor of hops

2

: a tall slender footed glass for beer

Examples of pilsner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Two journalists settled onto barstools beneath signs for pilsners and cherry sours. — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 2 Oct. 2026

With the changing of the seasons, the sunny yellows of pilsners, golden ales and even IPAs give way to the colors of the changing leaves in our beers, with reds, oranges and browns coming to the forefront. — Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 2 Sep. 2026

The style was born in Dortmund, Germany, and usually sits somewhere between the snappy hops of a pilsner and the malty smoothness of a Helles. — Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Use a light-bodied pilsner-style lager, such as Corona or Pacifico, for the best flavor. — Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

German, literally, of Pilsen (Plzeň), city in Czechia

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1