tavern

noun

tav·​ern ˈta-vərn How to pronounce tavern (audio)
1
: an establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold to be drunk on the premises
2
: inn

Examples of tavern in a Sentence

a seedy section of the city's waterfront that was rife with cheap taverns, tattoo parlors, and run-down flophouses a colonial-era tavern that has been serving weary travelers for two and a half centuries
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.
Cunningham said the difference is a nightclub imposes a cover charge on all patrons while a tavern offering entertainment does not. Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025 The Main Street block is known as the scene of an 1887 shootout where Wild West gambler and tavern owner Luke Short gunned down detective and former city marshal Jim Courtright, who was stepping onto the street near what is now Riscky’s. Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2025 With flavors that riff on Tokyo’s casual taverns and yatai stalls combined with L.A. creativity (like a tasty spin on McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish) and fresh-from-the-land-and-sea Hawaiian ingredients, Ototo’s outpost is practically a tri-coastal flavor summit. David Hochman, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025 Hilariously, though, just as the two whip the entire tavern up into an enthusiastic frenzy, someone bursts through the door to declare the war is over and the enemy has been vanquished. Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for tavern

Word History

Etymology

Middle English taverne, from Anglo-French, from Latin taberna hut, shop

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tavern was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tavern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tavern. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

tavern

noun
tav·​ern ˈtav-ərn How to pronounce tavern (audio)
1
: an establishment where alcoholic liquors are sold to be drunk on the premises
2
: inn

More from Merriam-Webster on tavern

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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