noun · verb · 5 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.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈpɒtlætʃ/
General-American:/ˈpɑtˌlæt͡ʃ/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:P AA1 T L AE2 CH
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest in which gifts are bestowed upon guests and personal property is destroyed in a show of generosity and wealth.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Canada, US, also, figuratively, uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share; a potluck.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Canada, US, uncountable, usually
Qualifier: chiefly Alaska
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fuddle
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To give; especially, to give as a gift during a potlatch ceremony.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To carry out or take part in a potlatch ceremony.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
a ceremonial feast held by some Indians of the northwestern coast of North America (as in celebrating a marriage or a new accession) in which the host gives gifts to tribesmen and others to display his superior wealth (sometimes, formerly, to his own impoverishment)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
The noun is borrowed from Chinook Jargon potlatch, pátlač (“to give; gift; gift-giving ceremony, potlatch”), from Nootka Jargon pa'chatle, pa'chēētle, pah-chilt (“to give, give me”), from Nootka p̕ačiƛ (“to give a gift during a potlatch ceremony”). Sense 1 of the verb (“to give; especially, to give a gift during a potlatch ceremony”) is borrowed from Chinook Jargon potlatch, pátlač (see above); sense 2 (“to carry out or take part in a potlatch ceremony”) is derived from the noun.
Across languages
Translations
33 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
散財宴 /散财宴
(sǎncáiyàn)
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Chinook Jargon:
potlatch
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Chinook Jargon:
pátlač
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Czech:
potlač
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Esperanto:
potlaĉo
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Finnish:
potlach
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
French:
potlatch
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
German:
Mitbringbuffet
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Halkomelem:
stl'e'áleq
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Japanese:
ポトラッチ
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Polish:
potlacz
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Russian:
по́тлач
(pótlač)
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Serbo-Croatian:
potlač
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Turkish:
potlaç
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Ukrainian:
потлач
(potlač)
— ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Chinese:
樂公 /乐公
(lo̍k-kong)
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
Chinese:
拍斗四
(phah-táu-sì)
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
Danish:
sammenskudsgilde
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
Finnish:
nyyttikestit
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
French:
auberge espagnole
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
French:
buffet canadien
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
French:
repas-partage
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
German:
Potluck
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
Ancient Greek:
ἔρανος
(éranos)
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
Icelandic:
pálínuboð
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
Italian:
pranzo al sacco
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
Portuguese:
festa americana
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
Spanish:
comelata
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
Spanish:
kermés
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
Spanish:
quermés
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
Spanish:
comelana
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
Sundanese:
botram
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
Swedish:
knytkalas
— communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck
