What does mealtime mean?
Mealtime is the time or occasion when a meal is eaten, most often referring to breakfast, lunch, dinner, or another regular daily meal. It is common in family life, workplaces, schools, and other settings where meals mark the rhythm of the day. The word can emphasize the period during which people eat, as in “We are required to arrive before mealtime,” or the shared social event, as in “The whole family talked at mealtime.” In British and American English, mealtime is generally neutral and practical, though it can also suggest the hospitality and conversation associated with eating together. It is especially useful when the specific meal is not important, since “at mealtime” covers a range of times and occasions.
nounThe time or occasion when a meal is eaten, especially a regular midday or evening meal.
- The time or occasion when a meal is eaten.
"The family gathers for conversation at mealtime."
"The children were told to put their phones away at mealtime."
"Quiet conversation is welcome during the evening mealtime."
The plural is used when referring to separate meal occasions, often across different days or people.
"The two schools have different mealtimes."
Mealtime is the pause in the day when routines slow down, stories are shared, and even a simple meal can become a social ritual.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mealtime come from?
Mealtime is a transparent English compound formed from meal and time, a combination that arose in the modern English period. Meal comes from Old English mæl, while time comes through Old English tīme from Latin tempora. The compound reflects the longstanding English practice of naming the parts of the day by the activities associated with them.
Related word forms
How mealtime is actually used
Mealtime is neutral and common in everyday British and American English. It can refer to the time of a meal or, more broadly, to the meal occasion itself.
Easily confused with mealtime
Mealtime is a general term for the occasion or period when any meal is eaten, whereas lunchtime usually refers specifically to the midday meal period.