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

In the summer, fire up the grill for hot dogs and hamburgers, or have a campfire outside to enjoy the warm weather and relax. —Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026

Lunch is a similarly leisurely affair, with guests sheltering from the midday sun to enjoy crunchy salads, hamburgers, and small plates spread out beside the pool. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026

Opportunistic feeders, grackles have always liked Texas school campuses, bird feeders, hamburger stands, shopping centers anchored by grocery stores and eateries with patios that somehow turn into on-demand grackle buffets. —Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026

Southern California changed the way people eat hamburgers, hot dogs and tacos after World War II. —Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026

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.