foodie

noun

food·​ie ˈfü-dē How to pronounce foodie (audio)
Synonyms of foodienext
: a person who has an avid interest in food and the latest food fads

Did you know?

Foodie is a relatively recent addition to our language (dating from the early 1980s), but it derives from a much older word, food, which has been with us for as long as there has been anything that could be called English. Food can be traced back through Middle English to the Old English form fōda, which is itself related to Old High German fuotar, meaning "food" or "fodder," and Latin panis, meaning "bread." Panis is the source for empanada (a turnover with a sweet or savory filling), panatela (a type of cigar), panettone (a kind of bread containing raisins and candied fruit), and pantry (a room used for the storage of provisions).

Examples of foodie in a Sentence

The restaurant is very popular among foodies.
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.
Big-time foodies – perhaps ones whose tech companies went public and turned them into multimillionaires – might want to check out the Ultimate Steakhouse Tour. Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026 Each town and city have their own culinary specialty — where are the foodies? Talla Mountjoy, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026 Other experiences on offer include time spent in Osaka’s beloved foodie district, Dotonbori, and a chance to explore UNESCO World Heritage sites. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2026 The industrial northern pocket of Chinatown housing Pacific Electric is well-known to ravers and foodies — Insomniac’s Naud Street warehouse is close by, and the upscale cocktail bar Apotheke and pan-Asian restaurant Majordomo are around the corner. Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foodie

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of foodie was in 1980

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Cite this Entry

“Foodie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foodie. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

foodie

noun
ˈfü-dē
: a person having an avid interest in the latest food fads

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