cafeteria

1 of 2

noun

caf·​e·​te·​ria ˌka-fə-ˈtir-ē-ə How to pronounce cafeteria (audio)
Synonyms of cafeterianext
1
: a restaurant in which the customers serve themselves or are served at a counter and take the food to tables to eat
2
: lunchroom sense 2

cafeteria

2 of 2

adjective

: providing a selection from which a choice may be made
cafeteria benefit plan
a cafeteria curriculum

Examples of cafeteria in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The reception was held in a cafeteria with a small stage at the front. — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 The company opened its first warehouse in 1928, incorporated as Wegmans Food Markets in 1931, and made headlines in 1930 with a flagship store that combined groceries, specialty departments, and a 300-seat cafeteria. — Chase Jordan october 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026 But, Punsalan asserts that the business is focused on other, more important priorities over the cafeteria or campus perks such as gym access offered in other tech companies. — Tamlin Magee, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026 An Oregon high school cafeteria chemical scare that left a student in critical condition has escalated into a domestic terrorism and attempted murder case against the same teenager school staff rushed to save. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cafeteria

Word History

Etymology

Noun

American Spanish cafetería coffeehouse, from cafetera coffee maker, from French cafetière, from café

First Known Use

Noun

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cafeteria was in 1894

Phrases Containing cafeteria

Rhymes for cafeteria

See All Rhymes for cafeteria

Browse Nearby Words

cafetal
cafeteria
cafeteria car
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Cite this Entry

“Cafeteria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cafeteria. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cafeteria

noun
caf·​e·​te·​ria
ˌkaf-ə-ˈtir-ē-ə
1
: a restaurant in which the customers serve themselves or are served at a counter but carry their own food to their tables
2
: lunchroom

More from Merriam-Webster on cafeteria

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cafeteria

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cafeteria

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