1
a
: the regular meal available to a guest for whom no special preparations have been made
b
: a communal meal to which people bring food to share
—usually used attributively
a potluck supper
2
: whatever is offered or available in given circumstances or at a given time
Examples of potluck in a Sentence
He organized a neighborhood potluck for next Saturday.
Recent Examples on the Web
This makes a great weeknight meal, but don’t overlook it for potlucks, parties, and holidays.
—
Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2024
This recipe came from a co-worker who years ago brought the cornbread to a Thanksgiving potluck.
—Adriene Rathbun, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2024
Weekend meals are a mixture of shared cooking, going out to eat, and potlucks with family and friends.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2024
In Houston, the Minaret Foundation, an interfaith social justice organization led by Ghani, and the Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism scrapped their annual Muslim-Jewish Christmas potluck.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
The centers often hosted political rallies, dances and potlucks, and some even helped community members prepare for the U.S. citizenship test.
—Michael C. Bender, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
The end result is a fudgy treat that is great for potluck or picnics where a messy frosting could get in the way.
—Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024
Dear Miss Manners: My husband and I disagree on the appropriate protocol when attending a neighborhood social event not specifically described as a potluck.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
This year my contributions to the football potluck will be on the healthier side.
—Cathy Thomas, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024
Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2024
This recipe came from a co-worker who years ago brought the cornbread to a Thanksgiving potluck.
—Adriene Rathbun, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2024
Weekend meals are a mixture of shared cooking, going out to eat, and potlucks with family and friends.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2024
In Houston, the Minaret Foundation, an interfaith social justice organization led by Ghani, and the Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism scrapped their annual Muslim-Jewish Christmas potluck.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
The centers often hosted political rallies, dances and potlucks, and some even helped community members prepare for the U.S. citizenship test.
—Michael C. Bender, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
The end result is a fudgy treat that is great for potluck or picnics where a messy frosting could get in the way.
—Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024
Dear Miss Manners: My husband and I disagree on the appropriate protocol when attending a neighborhood social event not specifically described as a potluck.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
This year my contributions to the football potluck will be on the healthier side.
—Cathy Thomas, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'potluck.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near potluck
Cite this Entry
“Potluck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potluck. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
potluck
noun
pot·luck
ˈpät-ˈlək 
1
a
: a regular meal for which no special preparations have been made
b
: a meal to which people bring food to share
2
: whatever is offered or available in given circumstances or at a given time
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