hamburger

noun

ham·​burg·​er ˈham-ˌbər-gər 

variants or hamburg

ˈham-ˌbərg 

1

a

: ground beef

b

: a patty of ground beef

2

: a sandwich consisting of a patty of hamburger in a split typically round bun

Examples of hamburger in a Sentence

They served hot dogs and hamburgers at the cookout.

Add the cooked hamburger to the sauce.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hoof and Barrel opened its first location in York in 2019, offering classic American fare including hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks and pork chops, according to its menu. —Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2025

The next question to analyze is to decide the starting price for the hamburger. —Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2025

Sonic’s menu specializes in old-school American fare, including hamburgers, hot dogs, corndogs and chicken tenders. —Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025

Ronald McDonald would beg to differ, although this assertion was made a full 40 years before the hamburger harlequin would supplant Bozo as America’s most beloved parti-colored jester. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

German Hamburger of Hamburg, Germany

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

hamburger

noun

ham·​burg·​er ˈham-ˌbər-gər 

variants or hamburg

-ˌbərg 

1

a

: ground beef

b

: a cooked patty of ground beef

2

: a sandwich consisting of a patty of hamburger in a split round bun

Etymology

German Hamburger (adjective) "of Hamburg," city in Germany

Word Origin

It may seem odd that there isn't any ham in a hamburger. The origins of the word hamburger, however, have nothing to do with a type of meat. The word really comes from the name of the German city Hamburg. Hamburger, when capitalized, means "of Hamburg." Cakes of ground beef, often served raw, were a popular food in northern Germany in the 19th century, and so they became known in English as Hamburger steaks. The name was later shortened to hamburger. Most people no longer associate the word hamburger with the city of Hamburg, since the hamburger is now usually thought of as an American food.