food
/fuːd/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Food is anything people or animals eat or drink to live and stay healthy. It can mean one meal, or all the things someone eats.
- We need fresh food every day.
- The hotel serves Indian food.
- Baby food is sold in small jars.
Adinary Nuance
Food is the broad, everyday word for what people eat. It is more general than meal, which means one eating time, and more common than cuisine, which usually sounds more formal or specific. Use food when you mean the actual edible thing, not the event of eating it.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thức ăn
- Spanish
- comida
- Chinese
- 食物
- Japanese
- 食べ物
- Korean
- 음식
Etymology
Food comes from Old English fōda, meaning “nourishment” or “something that feeds.” It has been used in English since early medieval times.
Common phrases
junk foodfast foodfood and drinkfood safety
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is food a countable noun?
- Usually, no. We say “some food” or “much food,” not “a food” in general use.
- What's the difference between food and meal?
- Food is what you eat. A meal is a time when you eat, like breakfast or dinner.
- Can I say “foods” in English?
- Usually, no. “Food” is normally uncountable, except in special contexts like “foods from India.”
- Is food used in formal writing?
- Yes. It is a normal word in both everyday speech and formal writing.