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
Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2025
According to an affidavit filed in that case, several people were in the school’s cafeteria for a Sunday church service.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 15 June 2025
Rafael Guerrero, chicagotribune.com, 15 June 2021
See All Example Sentences for cafeteria
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.
Noun
In addition, two local schools had their cafeterias temporarily closed: McCaffrey Middle School in Galt and Elverta Elementary School in Elverta.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2025
According to an affidavit filed in that case, several people were in the school’s cafeteria for a Sunday church service.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 15 June 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 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share