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

After the Palisades fire, the ranch began hosting weekly community potluck dinners for anyone who lost their home. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

These reader-favorite recipes check all the boxes, from make-ahead pasta salads perfect for potlucks to cheesy one-pot casseroles that practically clean up after themselves. — Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Oct. 2026

Enjoy a slice with your morning coffee or bring one to a holiday potluck. — Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2026

Church backrooms, potlucks, and ambrosia salad were all part of my childhood. — David Alm, Longreads, 1 Oct. 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