bartender
Americannoun
-
bartenders
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bartender
Explanation
A bartender is a person who mixes, pours, and serves drinks from behind a bar. The bartender at a bar mitzvah may spend hours putting little paper umbrellas in Shirley Temples for the young guests. If you work as a bartender, you need to know how to mix cocktails, pour wine and beer, and keep the bar tidy. Most bartenders don't make a high hourly wage, but depend on tips to make a good living. Many events, like wedding receptions and big parties, include a bartender. The word itself dates from the early 19th century, from bar, which comes from the barrier or counter over which drinks are served, and tender, or "seller."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Riley has now recovered and is back working in a pub as a bartender.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
My seven-year run as a bartender started in the BlackBerry era and ended a few years after the birth of the iPhone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
I am a 30-year-old girl living in New York City and I started dating a 43-year-old bartender.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
He frequently speaks about his humble beginnings as the son of a bartender and a hotel maid.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
Once they do I realize that the saloon is empty excepting for the bartender, polishing glasses.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
My gaze drifted to the bartenders, who seemed bored, waiting for the evening rush.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Ice handling is considered an essential skill for Japanese bartenders, who often begin their training by learning to break it with precision.
From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026
A DJ checks the sound and bartenders shake their elevated work while Benidorm turns to gold below.
From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026
Robot rentals are becoming available for anything from a day to years for a variety of purposes, from Moxi's hospital deliveries to robot bartenders or autonomous weeders for farms.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
Jimmy pretended to be this happy-go-lucky guy, playing around with the bartenders and waitresses.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
