hamburger

noun

ham·​burg·​er ˈham-ˌbər-gər 

variants or hamburg

ˈham-ˌbərg 

1

a

: ground beef

b

: a patty of ground beef

2

: a sandwich consisting of a patty of hamburger in a split typically round bun

Examples of hamburger in a Sentence

They served hot dogs and hamburgers at the cookout.

Add the cooked hamburger to the sauce.

Recent Examples on the Web

The days of highway cruising and stopping for a chocolate malt have returned at the retro hamburger drive-in at 2028 Fort Worth Highway, making the 5-minute drive from a giant H-E-B grocery in Parker County seem like a 60-year trip back in time. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2025

There will be children’s activities and educational games, free hamburgers and hot dogs, specialty food trucks, DJ line dancing and adult bingo. —Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025

Following the flag raising, the community is invited to gather for live music by Profile Band and complimentary hot dogs and hamburgers. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2025

Tips From The Test Kitchen To make this recipe ahead, form the hamburger the night before, then cover and refrigerate overnight. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 7 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

German Hamburger of Hamburg, Germany

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

hamburger

noun

ham·​burg·​er ˈham-ˌbər-gər 

variants or hamburg

-ˌbərg 

1

a

: ground beef

b

: a cooked patty of ground beef

2

: a sandwich consisting of a patty of hamburger in a split round bun

Etymology

German Hamburger (adjective) "of Hamburg," city in Germany

Word Origin

It may seem odd that there isn't any ham in a hamburger. The origins of the word hamburger, however, have nothing to do with a type of meat. The word really comes from the name of the German city Hamburg. Hamburger, when capitalized, means "of Hamburg." Cakes of ground beef, often served raw, were a popular food in northern Germany in the 19th century, and so they became known in English as Hamburger steaks. The name was later shortened to hamburger. Most people no longer associate the word hamburger with the city of Hamburg, since the hamburger is now usually thought of as an American food.