cafeteria

noun caf·e·te·ria \ ˌka-fə-ˈtir-ē-ə \

|Updated on: 18 Aug 2018

Definition of cafeteria

1 : a restaurant in which the customers serve themselves or are served at a counter and take the food to tables to eat

2 : lunchroom 2

See cafeteria defined for English-language learners

See cafeteria defined for kids

Recent Examples of cafeteria from the Web

Counted among food service businesses are restaurants, delis, coffee shops, food trucks, cafeterias, and grocery stores.

— sarah wu, The Seattle Times, "Q&A: Seattle’s plastic straw ban now in effect; here’s what you need to know," 3 July 2018
Byrd said books for all ages are placed in the cafeteria, waiting rooms and exam rooms and many patients go home with one or more books.

— ginger brashinger, Daily Southtown, "Health checkups now include story time, free books for Will County kids," 28 June 2018
The Roxbury Prep project would be the largest, housing 800 students in a three-story building featuring a cafeteria, gymnasium, and 66 parking spaces.

— james vaznis, BostonGlobe.com, "Building boom at Boston charter schools outpaces that at other city schools," 11 June 2018
Alina Sorling worked as a food service technician in Mercy Medical Center's cafeteria for more than 10 years, performing tasks that included cashiering, grilling, cleaning and stocking, according to the EEOC lawsuit.

— hannah holzer and cathie anderson, sacbee, "EEOC alleges Dignity Health violated disabilities act in firing worker with vision loss," 11 July 2018
The cafeteria in the command hub used to be the town’s best dining option.

— christopher m. matthews, WSJ, "Oil’s New Technology Spells End of Boom for Roughnecks," 10 July 2018
Stir and the cafeteria will be open to museum visitors — not the general public — but the Sunday pay-what-you-wish policy will make the brunch a popular option, Harrity said.

— michael klein, Philly.com, "Architect Frank Gehry to design Art Museum restaurant," 10 July 2018
A dozen or so warm bottles of Shinola Cola went on display this month inside a Quicken Loans cafeteria in downtown Detroit.

— Detroit Free Press, "Shinola Cola sells for $2-plus in downtown Detroit, free in Midtown," 30 June 2018
Eleven students, ages 11 to 13, were transported to local hospitals for further treatment after mace was sprayed in the cafeteria at Southwest Academy in Woodlawn Tuesday morning, Baltimore County Fire Battalion Chief Robert Kemp said.

— talia richman, baltimoresun.com, "Fight involving pepper spray breaks out inside Woodlawn High School; 2 students arrested," 12 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of cafeteria

American Spanish cafetería coffeehouse, from cafetera coffee maker, from French cafetière, from café

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1894

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

cafeteria

adjective

Definition of cafeteria

: providing a selection from which a choice may be made

cafeteria benefit plan

a cafeteria curriculum

First Known Use of cafeteria

1908

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

CAFETERIA Defined for English Language Learners

cafeteria

noun

Definition of cafeteria for English Language Learners

: a place (such as a restaurant or a room in a school) where people get food at a counter and carry it to a table for eating

CAFETERIA Defined for Kids

cafeteria

noun caf·e·te·ria \ ˌka-fə-ˈtir-ē-ə \

Definition of cafeteria for Students

: a place where people get food at a counter and carry it to a table for eating

a school cafeteria

Learn More about cafeteria

See words that rhyme with cafeteria Spanish Central: Translation of cafeteria Nglish: Translation of cafeteria for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cafeteria for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cafeteria

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cafeteria

Definition of cafeteria

Recent Examples of cafeteria from the Web

Origin and Etymology of cafeteria

Other Food Terms

cafeteria

Definition of cafeteria

First Known Use of cafeteria

Other Food Terms

CAFETERIA Defined for English Language Learners

cafeteria

Definition of cafeteria for English Language Learners

CAFETERIA Defined for Kids

cafeteria

Definition of cafeteria for Students

Learn More about cafeteria

Seen and Heard

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