What does victual mean?
Victual is an old-fashioned but precise word for food, provisions, or a supply of provisions, especially the food needed for a voyage, military campaign, or large household. In the plural, victuals often suggests a stock of supplies rather than a meal, covering both what is carried and what is served. It can also be a verb meaning to supply someone or something with food, as in victual a ship. The word survives most naturally in literary, historical, nautical, and institutional contexts and sounds more traditional than neutral in contemporary British English, while in American English it is chiefly literary or archaic. Although uncommon, victual is useful because it can refer specifically to provisions in the sense of stocked supplies rather than simply food. Its Latin ancestry, transmitted through French, also connects it with related words for provisions in French, Italian, and German.
Food or provisions, especially food or supplies provided for a journey, voyage, military expedition, or household.
"Fresh victuals were distributed among the travelers."
The plural is more common in modern usage, while a singular reference to a particular supply of food often sounds archaic or literary.
To supply a person, ship, military unit, or other organization with food or provisions.
"The merchant was paid to victual the garrison for another month."
The verb is literary or archaic, though it remains idiomatic in nautical and historical writing. It also has the archaic sense “to eat.”
Victuals is the usual plural when the word means a supply of food, as in fresh victuals. The singular is less common and often sounds archaic.
"The travelers bought fresh victuals from the village shop."
Its Latin ancestor, victus, means “food” and is also the past participle of the ancient verb meaning “to eat.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does victual come from?
Victual entered Middle English from Anglo-Norman victuailles, a French word derived from Late Latin victualia, the plural of victualis, “of or pertaining to food.” Latin victus meant “food” or “nourishment” and was the past participle of vesci, “to eat.” The same Latin source underlies cognates such as French victuailles, Italian vettovaglia, and German Viktualien.
Related word forms
How victual is actually used
The word now has a traditional, slightly old-fashioned quality. It is most natural in literary, historical, nautical, military, and institutional contexts; the plural form is particularly common when referring to a supply of provisions.
Easily confused with victual
A victim is a person who is harmed, attacked, or killed, whereas victual refers to food or provisions.