café

play

noun, often attributive ca·fé \ ka-ˈfā , kə- \

variants: or less commonly cafe

Definition of café

1 :a usually small and informal establishment serving various refreshments (such as coffee); broadly :restaurant

2 :barroom

3 :cabaret, nightclub

See café defined for English-language learners

See café defined for kids

Examples of café in a Sentence

the café presents nationally known jazz performers in an intimate setting
a speakeasy that became a fashionable café with the repeal of prohibition

Recent Examples of café from the Web

Shamsie excels at lovely descriptive writing of small moments, and most readers will succumb to Isma’s charms sufficiently to forgive the coincidence of the story’s inciting event: Isma notices a familiar face across the cafe.

— katharine weber, The Seattle Times, "Kamila Shamsie’s ‘Home Fire’ explores a family’s dark legacy," 27 Aug. 2017
The cafe has a top-secret roaster who supplies the daily blends served in house.

— special to al.com, AL.com, "Huntsville's coffee scene is heating up," 27 Aug. 2017
Matcha isn't just making a name for itself at your favorite cafes.

— devon abelman, Allure, "The Most Exciting Beauty Launches for Fall 2017," 18 Aug. 2017
French police say an 8-year-old girl was killed and at least five people were injured when a driver slammed his car into the sidewalk cafe of a pizza restaurant in a small town east of Paris.

— angela charlton, chicagotribune.com, "Police: Girl, 8, killed as car plows into French pizzeria," 14 Aug. 2017
The cafe is less than two blocks from the Cappuccino Cafe and the Splendid Hotel, the sites of the January 2016 attack, which left more than 25 people dead and dozens more injured.

— dionne searcey and jaime yaya barry, New York Times, "Gunmen Kill 18 at Restaurant in Burkina Faso," 14 Aug. 2017
PARIS (AP) — French police say an 8-year-old girl was killed and at least five people were injured when a driver slammed his car into the sidewalk cafe of a pizza restaurant in a small town east of Paris.

— angela charlton, Cincinnati.com, "Police: Girl, 8, killed as car plows into French pizzeria," 14 Aug. 2017
The downtown area of Main Street, Broad Street, and all the tiny cobblestone streets in-between boast a ton of cute cafes, boutique shops, and markets to walk through.

— lauren alexis fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "The First Timer's Guide To A Chic Weekend in Nantucket," 11 Aug. 2017
Now, it’s packed with nightlife, farmers’ markets, cafes, museums, and more.

— Daily Intelligencer, "This Canadian City Will Make You Feel Like You’ve Landed in Europe," 11 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'café.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of café

French café coffee, café, from Turkish kahve — more at coffee

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1802

See Words from the same year

café Synonyms

Synonyms

bistro, boîte, cabaret, nightclub (also cafe), club, nightspot, nitery (also niterie), roadhouse, supper club

Related Words

a-go-go, disco, discotheque (or discothéque); barroom, pub [chiefly British], public house [chiefly British], saloon, tavern; clip joint [slang], dive, honky-tonk, key club, speakeasy; canteen, watering hole, watering place

CAFE

abbreviation

Definition of CAFE

corporate average fuel economy

Other Automotive Terms

articulated, block, choke, clutch, diesel, neutral, transmission

CAFÉ Defined for English Language Learners

café

play

noun

Definition of café for English Language Learners

: a small restaurant where you can get simple meals and drinks (such as coffee)

CAFÉ Defined for Kids

café

noun ca·fé

variants: also cafe \ka-ˈfā, kə-\

Definition of café for Students

:a small restaurant serving usually simple meals

Learn More about café

See words that rhyme with café Spanish Central: Translation of café Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about café

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up café? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

café

Definition of café

Read the Latest from M-W

Examples of café in a Sentence

Recent Examples of café from the Web

Origin and Etymology of café

café Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

CAFE

Definition of CAFE

Other Automotive Terms

CAFÉ Defined for English Language Learners

café

Definition of café for English Language Learners

CAFÉ Defined for Kids

café

Definition of café for Students

Learn More about café

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066