noun
Uncommon
luncheon
LUHN-shuhn
Luncheon (noun) means a formal meal eaten in the middle of the day. Example: “The charity held a luncheon to thank its major donors.”
noun
1
A formal meal eaten in the middle of the day.
"The charity held a luncheon to thank its major donors."
"Guests were seated for the wedding luncheon at noon."
2
A cheap processed meat product, sold in slices (short for "luncheon meat").
"She fried up some luncheon with eggs for breakfast."
How to use luncheon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA more formal word for lunch, or a type of tinned/sliced processed meat.
When to use it
Sounds more formal or old-fashioned than "lunch" — used for official events like business luncheons.
Common pairings
business luncheon
luncheon meat
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like luncheon.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- luncheons
- Third person singular
- luncheons
- Past tense
- luncheoned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The charity held a _____ to thank its major donors.
Etymology
Of uncertain origin, first recorded as lunching; it may derive from an early form related to lump, meaning a chunk of food, and is closely tied to lunch, though it isn't fully settled which word came first.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for luncheon
See all rhymes for luncheon →Frequently asked questions
What does “luncheon” mean?
The word “luncheon” means a formal meal eaten in the middle of the day. In plain terms, a more formal word for lunch, or a type of tinned/sliced processed meat.
How do you pronounce “luncheon”?
“Luncheon” is pronounced LUHN-shuhn (/ˈlʌn(t)ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “luncheon” in a sentence?
Here is “luncheon” used in a sentence: “The charity held a luncheon to thank its major donors.”
What part of speech is “luncheon”?
“Luncheon” is a noun.
Is “luncheon” a common word?
“Luncheon” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “luncheon” have?
“Luncheon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a formal meal eaten in the middle of the day.
