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noun Uncommon

Patty

PA-tee

Patty (noun) means a small, flat, round portion of ground meat or a similar mixture, usually cooked. Example: “He grilled a beef patty for each burger.”

noun
1
A small, flat, round portion of ground meat or a similar mixture, usually cooked.
"He grilled a beef patty for each burger."
"The recipe calls for shaping the mixture into patties before frying."
2
A small pastry, often filled with meat or vegetables and baked in a flaky crust.
"She grabbed a Jamaican beef patty from the bakery for lunch."

How to Use Patty

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA flat round of ground meat (or similar filling), or a small filled pastry.

Common pairings
burger patty beef patty veggie patty

Word Forms

patties plural

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Test yourself on “Patty” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He grilled a beef _____ for each burger.

Etymology

From Pat (a nickname) plus -y; the pastry sense likely comes through French pâté, referring to a filled pastry.

Origin: French

burger patty cake

Related Words

Rhymes for Patty

See all rhymes for Patty →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Patty” mean?

The word “Patty” means a small, flat, round portion of ground meat or a similar mixture, usually cooked. In plain terms, a flat round of ground meat (or similar filling), or a small filled pastry.

How do you pronounce “Patty”?

“Patty” is pronounced PA-tee (/ˈpæti/ in IPA).

How do you use “Patty” in a sentence?

Here is “Patty” used in a sentence: “He grilled a beef patty for each burger.”

What part of speech is “Patty”?

“Patty” is a noun.

Where does the word “Patty” come from?

The word “Patty” comes from French. From Pat (a nickname) plus -y; the pastry sense likely comes through French pâté, referring to a filled pastry.

Is “Patty” a common word?

“Patty” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Patty” have?

“Patty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, flat, round portion of ground meat or a similar mixture, usually cooked.

What is the difference between a patty and a burger?

A patty is the small, flat, round portion of ground meat itself, while a burger is the complete dish, typically the patty served in a bun with toppings. Every burger contains a patty, but a patty on its own is not yet a burger.

Can patty refer to something other than meat?

Yes, patty can also refer to a small pastry, often filled with meat or vegetables and baked in a flaky crust, a usage especially common in Caribbean cuisine such as the Jamaican beef patty.

Are patties always made from ground meat?

No, while patty commonly describes a small, flat, round portion of ground meat, similar shaped mixtures made from vegetables, beans, or grains are also called patties when formed and cooked the same way.

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