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

This two-floor restaurant is a long-standing community favorite offering a large and diverse menu to suit all tastes and cravings, from hamburgers to sushi. —Kimberly Lyn, Travel + Leisure, 21 Oct. 2025

After more than 70 years of churning out its famous hamburger sliders from a tiny white building on Woodward Avenue and Hamilton Row, Hunter House Hamburgers is moving. —Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 20 Oct. 2025

Jeff and Gabriel join forces to make their lives less miserable, and at one point Jeff introduces his former-angel friend to the Earthly joys of hamburgers and milkshakes. —Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 17 Oct. 2025

Over time, their simple menu of hamburgers and hotdogs had outshined the billiards, and the tables were removed to make room for more booths. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 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.