iftar

American  

[if-tahr] / ˈɪf tɑr /

noun

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) the meal that Muslims eat after sunset during Ramadan to break the day’s fast.

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iftar British  

/ ˈɪftɑː /

noun

1. the meal eaten by Muslims to break their fast after sunset every day during Ramadan

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Etymology

Origin of iftar

First recorded in 1830–35, iftar is from the Arabic word ʾifṭār “the breaking of the fast”

Explanation

Iftar is the second of two meals that fasting Muslims eat each day during Ramadan. Iftar is eaten after sunset. Iftar is a meal eaten after sunset during the month of Ramadan. It's the meal that breaks the daily fast that Muslims observe during this month, and it is often a community affair. Traditional foods include dates — which are generally the very first thing to be eaten after a day of fasting — samosas, different kinds of rice dishes, and many other regional dishes.

Example Sentences

Six Flags Qiddiya City recently hosted iftar celebrations that marked the end of the daily Ramadan fasts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

On Friday, the staff had finished their iftar meal, ending their daily fast for Ramadan, and were bedding down for the night.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

Seated on a thin carpet covering the cardboard floor, Rauzah and her four children share an iftar meal of vegetables and prawns.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

The next event I went to was during Ramadan, an iftar at a Bangladeshi community center on the basement floor of a row house in Flatbush.

From Slate • Nov. 12, 2025

Community iftar or open iftar events are gaining popularity as well around the country where people of diverse communities and all faiths join Muslims in breaking their fasts and share a meal.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2025