What does veggieburger mean?
A veggieburger is an informal English name for a hamburger-style sandwich whose patty contains no meat. The patty may be made from vegetables, legumes, grains, soy, mushrooms, or other plant-based ingredients, and it is usually served in a bun with condiments. The term does not imply that every component is vegan: cheese, sauces, and other toppings may still contain animal products. In ordinary use, a veggieburger stands for a familiar burger format adapted to vegetarian eating. Its spelling is often shortened to “veggie burger” and may appear closed as “veggieburger.” The word's appeal is both culinary and linguistic: it repurposes a familiar name while making the absence of meat explicit. It is consequently useful in menus, recipe headings, and conversation wherever a compact label is preferable to a longer description.
nounA hamburger-style sandwich whose patty is made without meat, typically from vegetables, legumes, grains, or plant-based substitutes. It may contain cheese or other animal-derived ingredients and is therefore not necessarily vegan.
- A meatless burger-style sandwich, usually containing a patty made from vegetables, legumes, grains, or plant-based ingredients.
"She ordered a veggieburger with lettuce, tomato, and a spicy mustard sauce."
"The café offers a grilled veggieburger with avocado and pickled onions."
"Vegetarian diners praised the restaurant's substantial veggieburger."
The standard plural adds -s to the complete noun.
"The stall sells four varieties of veggieburgers."
In a veggieburger, the patty can be wild, but the rule is simple: no meat.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of veggieburger
The word is an English compound formed from the informal clipping “veggie” and “burger,” a shortened form of “hamburger.” “Veggie” in turn shortens “vegetable,” while “burger” developed from “hamburger,” with the final element becoming a general label for sandwiches made with a patty. The compound reflects the development of English food terminology for familiar meatless alternatives to traditional dishes.
Related word forms
How veggieburger is actually used
Informal and especially associated with everyday food labeling, menus, and recipes. “Veggie” does not necessarily mean vegan because cheese, sauces, or other toppings may contain animal products.