meals on wheels

American  

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter)

1. a program, usually one supported or subsidized by a charitable, social, or government agency, for delivering hot meals regularly to elderly, disabled, or convalescing persons who are housebound and cannot cook for themselves.

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meals on wheels British  

noun

1. (functioning as singular) social welfare a service, usually subsidized, and run by a social services department or voluntary body, which delivers hot meals to elderly or housebound people who might otherwise be unable to have them

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Etymology

Origin of meals on wheels

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Aged 82, she had lived in Australia for decades and was honoured in 2022 for delivering kosher meals on wheels for decades, the group said.

From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025

Added Walter Becker: “We were shut-ins, it’s just that instead of being shut in our homes with meals on wheels we were in recording studios with takeout food.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2019

Perhaps volunteer work, tutoring kids, meals on wheels, anything other than the pain and anguish of life as an M’s fan?

From Seattle Times • Aug. 18, 2019

The meals on wheels service has been withdrawn from many parts of Scotland - and will cease entirely by the end of the year.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2018

Lunch clubs, meals on wheels, old people's homes and sheltered accommodation are all concepts born of their time, but desperately in need of an update.

From The Guardian • Aug. 6, 2011