flatware

American  

[flat-wair] / ˈflætˌwɛər /

noun

1. utensils, as knives, forks, and spoons, used at the table for serving and eating food.

2. dishes or containers for the table that are more or less flat, as plates and saucers (hollowware ).

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flatware British  

/ ˈflætˌwɛə /

noun

1. cutlery

2. any relatively flat tableware such as plates, saucers, etc Compare hollowware

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Etymology

Origin of flatware

First recorded in 1850–55; flat ¹ + ware ¹

Compare meaning

How does flatware compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• flatware vs. silverware

Example Sentences

The most obvious way to tell if your coins, jewelry and flatware are indeed silver is to look for certain markings — called hallmarks or stamps — although these can vary depending upon the country of origin.

From MarketWatch

The most obvious way to tell if your coins, jewelry and flatware are indeed silver is to look for certain markings — called hallmarks or stamps — although these can vary depending upon the country of origin.

From MarketWatch

So many sellers have swarmed Manhattan’s Diamond District with bracelets and flatware that buyers have had trouble keeping enough cash on hand.

From The Wall Street Journal

When we’re feeling flush, a sensation most of us haven’t enjoyed in quite some time, some of us invest in matching plates and flatware.

From Salon

The Arne Jacobsen set, he explains over Zoom, is an important piece of design history, but not a great piece of flatware.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cutlery
• tableware