bartender

noun

bar·​tend·​er ˈbär-ˌten-dər How to pronounce bartender (audio)
Synonyms of bartendernext
: a person who serves drinks at a bar
bartend intransitive verb

Examples of bartender in a Sentence

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.
When the bartender turned to take my order, something stopped me, not a thought exactly, but something like it. Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026 His father, Mario, was a hardworking bartender; his mother, Oriales, was a hotel maid. Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026 How to Try the Trend at Home Voisey explains that many bartenders master the classics first, then can riff on those themes to play with the texture (such as Avocado Margaritas), flavor profiles (ahem, Kalamata Olive Martini), and eventually, combine two in one. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026 Mockovak was taken aback when his fellow soldiers complained that the French bartenders managed only passable English. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bartender

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bartender was in 1825

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bartender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bartender. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

bartender

noun
bar·​tend·​er ˈbär-ˌten-dər How to pronounce bartender (audio)
: a person who serves alcoholic drinks at a bar
bartend verb

More from Merriam-Webster on bartender

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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