caf·e·te·ria
ˌka-fə-ˈtir-ē-ə 
1
: a restaurant in which the customers serve themselves or are served at a counter and take the food to tables to eat
: providing a selection from which a choice may be made
cafeteria benefit plan
a cafeteria curriculum
Examples of cafeteria in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Keep away from windows and refrain from seeking shelter in large open rooms like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2025
Rafael Guerrero, chicagotribune.com, 15 June 2021
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Noun
After signing with Boston during spring training, Bregman sat with Mayer, Anthony and Kristian Campbell in the team’s cafeteria for over an hour, picking their brains, and later bought them suits for their impending debuts and big-league travel.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Keep away from windows and refrain from seeking shelter in large open rooms like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2025
Adjective
Officials floated several ideas Monday on how to deal with lunchroom sizes, including allowing students to eat in non-cafeteria sites, younger students eating picnic style or high school juniors and seniors being allowed to leave the school campus for lunch.
—Rafael Guerrero, chicagotribune.com, 15 June 2021
See All Example Sentences for cafeteria
Cite this Entry
“Cafeteria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cafeteria. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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