bartender

American  

[bahr-ten-der] / ˈbɑrˌtɛn dər /

noun

• bartenders
  plural

1. a person who mixes and serves alcoholic drinks at a bar.

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bartender British  

/ ˈbɑːˌtɛndə /

noun

1. a person who serves in a bar

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bartenders
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bartender

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; bar ¹ + tender ³

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

See Examples For:

bartender bartenders

At a Hilton Hotel bar near Tokyo, bartender Shingo Miyachi prepares a negroni with one of Kuramoto Ice's big, clear cubes.

From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026

At the Duke of Wellington, Ryan McDowell, 33, a bartender who lives above the establishment, estimates about 60 customers congregate outside on a busy night.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 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

Watching this slapstick routine of quitters and re-enterers from a vantage point atop the polls is Francesca Hong, a state representative, part-time bartender, and Democratic Socialists of America member.

From Slate ● Aug. 1, 2026

I told the bartender that there had obviously been some mistake.

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

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

“However you can get out of LAX the fastest and the cheapest is how everybody’s calculating in my circle of bartenders and magicians” said Joshua Lucas, a passenger who was recently arriving at LAX.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 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