potluck

noun

pot·​luck ˈpät-ˈlək 

sense 1b also -ˌlək

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

The members organized events such as potluck dinners for Black and white families to interact, tutoring program for students and other efforts to improve southeast Denton. —Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2026

Keep a stash in the fridge for the kids (and adults) for summer snacking or tote them to picnics, potlucks, and pool parties. —Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2026

Summer is here, which means we should be prepared for potlucks every single weekend. —Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 14 June 2026

This was all in the name of our summer cookbook potluck, celebrating the season’s best new releases. —Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for potluck

• amok
• amuck
• awestruck
• dumbstruck
• roebuck
• unstuck
• woodchuck
• chuck
• cluck
• duck
• huck
• luck

Kids 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