What does picnics mean?
Picnics are meals enjoyed outdoors, usually during a trip, excursion, or gathering. The food is commonly prepared at home and carried in containers, a basket, or a picnic bag, then eaten on a blanket, at a table, or directly on the ground. The expression is also used for the social occasion itself, as in “the annual family picnic.” In British and American English, picnics are associated with parks, beaches, gardens, and other pleasant outdoor settings. Although picnics do not require a specific type of food, they often feature sandwiches, fruit, snacks, and cold drinks. The plural “picnics” can refer to multiple meals or to multiple separate occasions involving outdoor dining. The word is widely understood and commonly appears in practical contexts such as packing a picnic, having a picnic, or attending a picnic.
noun (plural)A meal eaten outdoors, typically as part of an outing or gathering and usually brought from home. “Picnics” is the plural form of the noun “picnic.”
- Plural of picnic: meals eaten outdoors, typically brought from home and enjoyed as part of an outing.
"The family enjoyed several picnics by the lake during the summer."
"They spread out a blanket and enjoyed their picnics beneath the trees."
"The park was full of picnics on the warm spring afternoon."
“Picnics” is the regular plural of the noun “picnic.”
"We went on picnics every weekend that summer."
The word “picnic” comes from French Picknick, a German word associated with an outdoor meal, and entered English during the 18th century.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does picnics come from?
The word “picnic” entered English in the 18th century from French Picknick. This French form was borrowed from German Picknick, which was probably influenced by earlier French and Dutch dining terms, especially piknik, meaning an outdoor meal. English later developed associated forms including “picnicker,” meaning a person who goes on a picnic or takes part in picnicking.
Related word forms
How picnics is actually used
“Picnics” is the regular plural of “picnic.” The word commonly suggests food eaten outdoors, often on a blanket or at a picnic table, and may also refer more broadly to social outings at which such meals are eaten.