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

As guests flop after a swim, lunch – from small plates to classics like salads and hamburgers – can be brought over. — Jonathan Samuels, TheWeek, 17 July 2026

Like the ketchup on a hamburger, a condimento is meant to complement the pasta. — Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

The aforementioned allergy to things like ice cream and hamburgers, for example, is called alpha-gal syndrome, and it’s spread in the US by the bite of another tick, called the lone star. — Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Both are high in total and saturated fat, but hamburgers contain slightly more. — Lauren Manaker Ms, Health, 14 July 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.