hamburger

American  

[ham-bur-ger] / ˈhæmˌbɜr gər /

Also hamburg

noun

1. a sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground or chopped beef, usually in a roll or bun, variously garnished.

2. ground or chopped beef.

3. Also called Hamburg steak.  a patty of ground or chopped beef, seasoned and fried or broiled.

4. Digital Technology. hamburger menu.

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hamburger British  

/ ˈhæmˌbɜːɡə /

noun

1. Also called: Hamburger steak.   beefburger.  a flat fried cake of minced beef, often served in a bread roll

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Etymology

Origin of hamburger

First recorded in 1880–85; short for Hamburger steak or Hamburg steak, a dish that originated in Hamburg, Germany, the port city from which many Germans emigrated to the United States, or in New York City and was made popular by immigrant Germans in the 19th century in Greater New York; -er ¹

Explanation

A hamburger is a sandwich consisting of a cooked meat patty on a bun or roll. You can order a hamburger, fries, and a shake at most fast food restaurants. Hamburgers are traditionally made with ground beef and served with onions, tomatoes, lettuce, ketchup, and other garnishes. You can also make a hamburger with turkey or other kinds of meat — although rarely, if ever, is ham used in a hamburger. Hamburgers were originally called "hamburg steak," named for the German city of Hamburg, although no actual connection between the place and the food has ever been documented.

Example Sentences

Called the Big Arch, the double-patty burger packs 1,020 calories and sells for around $9, or more than five times the price of that original 1958 hamburger after inflation, though prices vary by location.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Back in the spring, he says, "a hamburger cost 5m rials. It is now 12m. The numbers are just incomprehensible".

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

Literally rock stars are at Kitchen Mouse and there’s a little kids area where my daughter can play with like a fake hamburger and a child she just met.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2026

About two weeks later, still unaware that he had developed the meat allergy, he attended a barbeque and ate a hamburger.

From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025

Brandon ordered a hamburger and began to slide some money across the counter.

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson