waitstaff

noun

wait·​staff ˈwāt-ˌstaf How to pronounce waitstaff (audio)
: the staff of servers at a restaurant

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web But there is again waitstaff offering table service. Journal Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2023 Labor force challenges are addressed by providing counter service instead of waitstaff for the 44-seat space. Paris Wolfe, cleveland, 19 Jan. 2023 At a time when restaurants are scrabbling for waitstaff, part of a broader labor shortage, Bacchanalia one recent afternoon was crawling with employees. Saskia Solomon, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2022 Tarman said that the coming months would see some changes in business procedures, including the latest modern technology allowing waitstaff to place orders digitally from the floor. Hank Beckman, chicagotribune.com, 21 Mar. 2022 With dozens of employees between the kitchen, waitstaff and delivery teams, Zaki now has the same number of workers to pay as before — just less money to do it. Heba Farouk Mahfouz, Washington Post, 26 Dec. 2022 Remember: Like waitstaff in restaurants, housekeepers are working for—and paid by—employers not by customers. WSJ, 29 Sep. 2022 The problem is the husband feels compelled to put on a show in the restaurant, telling jokes and kidding with the waitstaff and patrons sitting around us. Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 4 July 2022 At Bobby McGee’s, the waitstaff wore unusual costumes, the salad bar was housed in a bathtub and drinks were served in mini sinks, bathtubs, a boot and a cactus mug. Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 19 Aug. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'waitstaff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of waitstaff was in 1981

Dictionary Entries Near waitstaff

Cite this Entry

“Waitstaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waitstaff. Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.

Kids Definition

waitstaff

noun
wait·​staff ˈwāt-ˌstaf How to pronounce waitstaff (audio)
: a staff of servers at a restaurant
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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