Gammon is cured pork , usually the hind leg of a pig, sold raw and then cooked like a roast or steak. In British usage, it’s closely related to ham, but gammon is typically cured and not fully cooked when you buy it.

Quick scoop

  • Gammon comes from the hind leg of pork.
  • It is cured by salting or brining, and sometimes smoked.
  • It’s often cooked for Christmas or other meals in the UK and Ireland.
  • In some dictionaries, “gammon” can also mean a backgammon term: winning before the other player removes any pieces.

Simple difference from ham

  • Gammon : usually sold uncooked, so you cook it before eating.
  • Ham : usually refers to the cured pork leg that is already cooked or ready to eat.

Example use

You might see a shop label like: “gammon joint,” “gammon steak,” or “boiled gammon with pineapple.” That all refers to the same cured pork cut.

Bottom line

If you meant the food, gammon is a cured pork cut from the leg. If you meant the word in games, it can also mean a special win in backgammon.