café

1 of 2

noun

ca·​fé ka-ˈfā How to pronounce café (audio)
kə-
variants or less commonly cafe
Synonyms of café
often attributive
1
: a usually small and informal establishment serving various refreshments (such as coffee)
broadly : restaurant
2
: barroom
3
: cabaret, nightclub

CAFE

2 of 2

abbreviation

ka-ˈfā How to pronounce CAFE (audio)
corporate average fuel economy

Synonyms of café

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Noun

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Examples of café in a Sentence

Noun the café presents nationally known jazz performers in an intimate setting a speakeasy that became a fashionable café with the repeal of prohibition
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.
Noun
Even early in the morning, the cafe had locals in doing breakfast meetings. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026 And Canary Wharf has more than doubled the number of retailers, restaurants, bars, and cafes since the pandemic. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026 The company is recruiting hosts through an online form, which notes that Community sites could include cafes, bars, apartment complexes, and neighborhoods. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 The holding pens are divided into smaller units, used as offices, studios, cafes, clubs and restaurants. — New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for café

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French café coffee, café, from Turkish kahve — more at coffee

First Known Use

Noun

1802, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of café was in 1802

Phrases Containing café

Browse Nearby Words

cafard
café
CAFE
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Café.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caf%C3%A9. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

café

noun
ca·​fé
variants also cafe
ka-ˈfā How to pronounce café (audio)
kə-
1
: a usually small restaurant
2
: barroom
3
: nightclub
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