iftar

noun

if·​tar ˈif-ˌtär 

plural iftars

: a meal taken by Muslims at sundown to break the daily fast during Ramadan

When we returned to Alexandria, in the late afternoon, the streets were deserted. It was the holy month of Ramadan. Most people had rushed home for the iftar, the breaking of the fast that lasts from sunrise to sunset.

—Amos Elon

Most of the time, iftars are family gatherings, held in homes or mosques during the holy month of Ramadan as people sit down to break the daily fast.

—The Arab American News

Examples of iftar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

How iftar dinner helps bridge divides Latif leads the Islamic Center of New York City, where volunteers recently prepared an evening iftar meal of chicken and rice and dates. —Brian Mann, NPR, 18 Mar. 2026

The Houthis targeted a group of people gathered for iftar, the evening meal that breaks the daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan, in Hajjah province, according to the Information Ministry. —ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026

On Friday, the staff had finished their iftar meal, ending their daily fast for Ramadan, and were bedding down for the night. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026

Across the Gulf, families are still gathering for Ramadan iftars. —Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Arabic ifṭār, noun of action from aftara "to break a fast," derivative of faṭara "to break, split"

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for iftar

• drifter
• lifter
• shifter
• sifter
• swifter