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
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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