cafeteria

American  

[kaf-i-teer-ee-uh] / ˌkæf ɪˈtɪər i ə /

noun

1. a restaurant in which patrons wait on themselves, carrying their food to tables from counters where it is displayed and served.

2. a lunchroom or dining hall, as in a factory, office, or school, where food is served from counters or dispensed from vending machines or where food brought from home may be eaten.

---

cafeteria British  

/ ˌkæfɪˈtɪərɪə /

noun

1. a self-service restaurant

---

Etymology

Origin of cafeteria

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; from Latin American Spanish cafetería “café,” Spanish cafeter(a) “coffeemaker,” from French caf(f)etière (equivalent to café + etière feminine of -ier ); t apparently by analogy with words such as bouquetière “flower seller,” from bases ending in t ) + -ía; coffee, -ier ²

Example Sentences

The ground-floor auditorium was gutted, the cafeteria looted.

From BBC

Inspired by Grandmaster Flash, he began freestyling in his early teens, first to himself in the bathroom, then to anyone who would listen in the cafeteria.

From Los Angeles Times

In the cafeteria, an administrator noted that the meal plan delivered growing athletes 2,800 “protein dominant calories” daily.

From The Wall Street Journal

The vegetable mélange of childhood pot pies and plastic school cafeteria trays.

From Salon

His members include special education and teacher aides, cafeteria works, custodians, gardeners and bus drivers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• lunchroom
• snack bar