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 notesIn plain EnglishA flat round of ground meat (or similar filling), or a small filled pastry.
Common pairings
burger patty
beef patty
veggie patty
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Word forms
- Plural
- patties
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.
Synonyms
View more →
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.
