Standard Lemma guide

luncheon

noun · verb · 8 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈlʌn.tʃən/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʌntʃən
  • CMU ARPABET: L AH1 N CH AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A formal meal served in the middle of the day.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • Most people thought the food at the luncheon was mediocre.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A large, cheap, processed sausage served in thin slices.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: New-Zealand, countable, uncountable

Examples

  • Ian bought the luncheon since it was on special.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Belgium, devon, fritz, polony

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Any midday meal; lunch.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, dated, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A lump of food.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A portion of food taken at any time except at a regular meal; an informal or light repast.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To eat luncheon.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To serve luncheon to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rare, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

a midday meal

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lunch, tiffin, dejeuner

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: meal, repast

Narrower terms: business lunch

History

Etymology

From earlier lunching, of uncertain origin. Possibly derived from an earlier *lumpchin, *lumpchen, a diminutive of lump (“chunk, parcel of food, lunch”), thus related to lunch. It is unclear which came first: whether lunch is a shortening of luncheon, or whether luncheon is an augmentation of lunch. Possibly also influenced by nuncheon (“light snack taken in the afternoon”). Noun sense 2 (“sausage”) is likely a ellipsis of luncheon sausage or luncheon meat.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 午宴 (wǔyàn) — formal meal served in the middle of the day — see also lunch
  • Chinese Mandarin: 工作午餐 (gōngzuò wǔcān) — formal meal served in the middle of the day — see also lunch
  • Czech: oběd — formal meal served in the middle of the day — see also lunch
  • Finnish: lounastilaisuus — formal meal served in the middle of the day — see also lunch
  • Malay: jamuan tengah hari — formal meal served in the middle of the day — see also lunch
  • Portuguese: almoço — formal meal served in the middle of the day — see also lunch
  • Russian: обед (obed) — formal meal served in the middle of the day — see also lunch
  • Finnish: lauantaimakkara — processed sausage served in thin slices
  • Finnish: lounastaa — to eat luncheon — see also lunch
  • Finnish: tarjota lounas — to serve luncheon — see also lunch
Real reading context

luncheon in complete knowledge articles