picnic

1 of 2

noun

pic·​nic ˈpik-(ˌ)nik 

often attributive

1

: an excursion or outing with food usually provided by members of the group and eaten in the open

also : the food provided for a picnic

2

a

: a pleasant or amusingly carefree experience

I don't expect being married to be a picnic

—Josephine Pinckney

b

: an easy task or feat

3

: a shoulder of pork with much of the butt removed

picnicky

ˈpik-(ˌ)ni-kē 

adjective

picnic

2 of 2

verb

picnicked; picnicking

intransitive verb

: to go on a picnic : eat in picnic fashion

picnicker noun

Synonyms of picnic

Noun

• bed of roses
• paradise
• rest
• utopia
• fun and games
• the lap of luxury
• life of Riley

Examples of picnic in a Sentence

Noun

We decided to have a picnic on the beach.

We ate our picnic by the lake.

The annual school picnic is this weekend.

This winter is a picnic compared with last year's.

Verb

We picnicked in the park.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And we were invited to be on the bill with the Outlaw Tour people, which included Willie’s Fourth of July picnic. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026

The modest park sits on less than one acre of land off Parkwood Avenue and includes a playground, a picnic shelter and green space. — Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026

Verb

There were drama, music, and dance performances and beaches crowded with picnicking families. — Helen Epstein, The New York Review of Books, 22 July 2026

But, Tucker said, in recent weeks, tourists have been found picnicking in the site. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

German or French; German Picknick, from French pique-nique

First Known Use

Noun

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1815, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing picnic

• picnic table

Rhymes for picnic

• broomstick
• dipstick
• homesick
• joystick
• lipstick
• nonstick
• pickwick
• redbrick
• seasick
• sidekick
• slapstick
• toothpick

Kids Definition

picnic

1 of 2 noun

pic·​nic ˈpik-(ˌ)nik 

1

: a meal eaten outdoors often during a trip away from home

2

a

: a pleasant or carefree experience

breaking a leg is no picnic

b

: an easy task

3

: a shoulder of pork that is often smoked and boned

picnicky adjective

picnic

2 of 2 verb

picnicked; picnicking

: to go on a picnic : eat as if on a picnic

picnicker noun