caterer

American  

[kay-ter-er] / ˈkeɪ tər ər /

noun

• caterers
  plural

1. one whose business is to provide food, supplies, and sometimes service at social gatherings.

2. one who caters.

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caterer British  

/ ˈkeɪtərə /

noun

1. a person who caters, esp one who as a profession provides food for large social events, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• caterers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of caterer

First recorded in 1585–95; cater + -er ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

caterer caterers

But while much of the food might be gloriously Gallic, Jean-Pierre, the Lanton caterer, insisted that the rush to feed the firefighters was not an exclusively French phenomenon.

From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026

Pizza popped up as often as pate on plates, while one caterer from La Reunion has won social media adulation for his gifts of cari, a spicy dish popular on the Indian Ocean island.

From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026

She began her working life as a waitress, then a restaurant manager and a caterer until, to fulfill a childhood dream, she took a few extension classes in baking.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2026

"Every caterer has had to take some money off the meal plate," he said.

From BBC ● Dec. 10, 2024

A caterer served food as music blared over stereo speakers and people remarked on the tasteful grandeur of the house.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Syleecia Thompson, a business professor at National University, said that "it hits small businesses, vendors, caterers and local communities".

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

“But the people who don’t get paid are those construction workers, the caterers, the costume designers and the makeup artists. Those folks ... they don’t get paid unless it’s done here at home.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026

County businesses in 2025 — equipment houses, caterers, postproduction shops — and contributed more than $400 million to the city’s economy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

They arrived at the venue two hours ahead of time to get it ready but when time was ticking on - with no sign of the caterers - their concern grew.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Adina’s father had come to America as a refugee, and, within a few years, had become one of the top kosher caterers in Gravesend.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny