Phrase guide

TV dinner

noun · 2 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.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A prepackaged meal purchased frozen and heated at home.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: frozen dinner, microwave meal, ready meal

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a meal that is prepared in advance and frozen; can be heated and served

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: convenience food

History

Etymology

Originally used for a brand of packaged meal (TV Brand Frozen Dinner) developed in 1953 for Swanson & Sons.