à la carte
adverb or adjective
ˌä-lə-ˈkärt 
ˌa-lə-
variants
or less commonly a la carte
: according to a menu or list that prices items separately
Cite this Entry
“à la carte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/%C3%A0%20la%20carte. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
à la carte
adverb or adjective
variants
also a la carte
ˌal-ə-ˈkärt
ˌäl-
: with a separate price for each item on the menu or list
an à la carte dinner
Etymology
from French à la carte, literally "by the bill of fare"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share