noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈkʌmfət ˌfuːd/
General-American:/ˈkʌmfɚt ˌfud/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one's formative years, often a staple of diners and other informal restaurants.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Food, often high in carbohydrates or sugar, consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress rather than to receive nutrition.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
After the relationship ended, she overindulged on comfort food every night.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
food that is simply prepared and gives a sense of wellbeing; typically food with a high sugar or carbohydrate content that is associated with childhood or with home cooking
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: food, nutrient
History
Etymology
From comfort + food. First use appears c. 1962 in the Independent (Pasadena, California).
Across languages
Translations
21 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
успокоя́ваща храна́
(uspokojávašta hraná)
— simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years
French:
aliment-doudou
— simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years
French:
aliment-réconfort
— simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years
French:
aliment réconfortant
— simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years
Indonesian:
makanan rumahan
— simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years
Italian:
comfort food
— simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years
Italian:
cibo di conforto
— simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years
Italian:
cibo consolatorio
— simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years
Japanese:
コンフォート・フード
— simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years
Javanese:
olahan omahan
— simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years
Polish:
jedzenie domowe
— simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years
Portuguese:
comida de conforto
— simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years
Portuguese:
comida caseira
— simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years
Chinese Mandarin:
報復餐 /报复餐
(bàofùcān)
— food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress
Dutch:
troosteten
— food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress
Dutch:
troostvoedsel
— food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress
Finnish:
lohturuoka
— food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress
German:
Nervennahrung
— food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress
German:
Seelentröster
— food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress
Hebrew:
אוכל מנחם \ אֹכֶל מְנַחֵם
(okhél m'nakhém)
— food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress
Polish:
jedzenie do poprawy nastroju
— food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress
