waitress

American  

[wey-tris] / ˈweɪ trɪs /

noun

1. a woman who waits on tables, as in a restaurant.

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verb (used without object)

1. to work or serve as a waitress.

   She waitressed in a restaurant to help pay her way through college.

waitress British  

/ ˈweɪtrɪs /

noun

1. a woman who serves at table, as in a restaurant

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verb

1. (intr) to act as a waitress

Gender

See -ess, -person.

Etymology

Origin of waitress

First recorded in 1580–90; wait(e)r + -ess

Example Sentences

Berry, the dancer who worked with Cynthia at Playmates, said she was clocking in that evening when the head waitress informed her that Cynthia’s body had been found.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

Michelle Pfeiffer pays her mother, an ex-Hooters waitress, and Nick Offerman plays her dad, a former pro wrestler.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

Motsinger, now 84, used to work as a waitress at a restaurant called the Trident in Sausalito, near San Francisco, that was a haunt for celebrities, including Cosby.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Donna Motsinger said she was working as a waitress more than 50 years ago when the performer began to target her.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

Dad relaxes, and when our waitress comes over to take our order, he asks for two baskets of breadsticks for the table even though he can’t eat them since he’s lactose intolerant.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Related Words

• flight attendant
• hostess
• stewardess
• waiter