tavern

noun

tav·​ern ˈta-vərn How to pronounce tavern (audio)
1
: an establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold to be drunk on the premises
2
: inn

Examples of tavern in a Sentence

a seedy section of the city's waterfront that was rife with cheap taverns, tattoo parlors, and run-down flophouses a colonial-era tavern that has been serving weary travelers for two and a half centuries
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Your Office replaced My Office tavern, which operated for decades before closing in 2020. Tom Daykin, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025 The tavern quickly became a favorite meeting spot for the Founding Fathers. Victoria Flexner, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025 One of my favorites is at Pezoulas, a fish tavern once popular with performers and musicians that opened in the 1950s, with a tranquil outdoor patio reminiscent of a plateia on a Greek island. Katherine Whittaker, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2025 Yes, this spot is an old trolley stop and former tavern. Pat Tompkins, AFAR Media, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tavern

Word History

Etymology

Middle English taverne, from Anglo-French, from Latin taberna hut, shop

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tavern was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tavern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tavern. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

tavern

noun
tav·​ern ˈtav-ərn How to pronounce tavern (audio)
1
: an establishment where alcoholic liquors are sold to be drunk on the premises
2
: inn

More from Merriam-Webster on tavern

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!