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

Most recently, he played a bartender alongside Jennifer Connelly in the 2022 sequel “Top Gun: Maverick.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

His most recent film role was 2022's Top Gun: Maverick, in which he played Jimmy, a bartender who works with the character played by Jennifer Connelly, Tom Cruise's love interest.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

"There's a buzz around the place, you can feel it," said John Crombie, a bartender at the Irish pub Jack Doyle's, which is hosting watch parties.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

Before arriving at the Journal in 2026, Adam worked as a bartender, a census enumerator, and a staff writer for The Atlantic.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

“It’s unfortunate,” says the new bartender, “but the unraveling of the navigator made it clear that changes had to be made.”

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman