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 versatile and super simple formula might just replace your go-to pound cake at the next potluck. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 23 May 2025

Also potluck lunch, socializing, fossil hunting and camping. —Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 May 2025

Along the back wall waited dishes of rice and chicken, part of a celebratory potluck to mark the end of Ramadan. —Tiffany Stanley, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025

Ramona Garden Club: 11:30 a.m. for potluck and social time, Mountain View Community Church, 1191 Meadowlark Way. —Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2025

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