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

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

The sensory mismatch — a coconut-flavored “potato” — is a little kid’s dream, like the Jelly Belly “Bean Boozled” pack or a cupcake that looks like a hamburger.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 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

“That’s the show where that one kid made a brownie look like a hamburger, right?”

From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks