bill of fare: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/ArchaicFormal, dated
Quick answer
What does “bill of fare” mean?
A menu.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A menu; a list of food and drinks available in a restaurant, with their prices.
A list or program of events, performances, or items offered, typically in a formal or structured setting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally archaic/formal in both dialects. 'Menu' is the standard term in both. No dialect-specific usage remains.
Connotations
In both, it evokes a bygone era (e.g., Victorian or Edwardian dining), upscale establishments trying to sound classic, or historical fiction.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern use. If encountered, it is almost always a deliberate stylistic choice to sound old-fashioned or quaint.
Grammar
How to Use “bill of fare” in a Sentence
The waiter presented us with the bill of fare.What is on the bill of fare tonight?We studied the bill of fare.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except in naming or marketing for themed/historical restaurants.
Academic
Used in historical or literary analysis of texts from the 18th-19th centuries.
Everyday
Virtually never used in contemporary everyday speech.
Technical
Not used in any modern technical context.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bill of fare”
- Using it in modern contexts sounds odd. Mistaking 'fare' for 'fair'. Pluralizing incorrectly as 'bills of fare' (grammatically possible but exceedingly rare).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic or highly formal. The standard modern word is 'menu'.
There is no difference in meaning. 'Bill of fare' is the older term, largely replaced by the French loanword 'menu' in the 19th/20th centuries.
Rarely and only figuratively. It can be extended to mean a list or program of events (e.g., 'the conference's bill of fare'), but this is very stylized and uncommon.
To understand historical texts, literature, or very formal/quirky restaurant marketing. It is a recognition term, not one for active use in contemporary communication.
A menu.
Bill of fare is usually formal, dated in register.
Bill of fare: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪl əv ˈfeə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪl əv ˈfer/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FARE (price) you pay for a meal listed on a BILL (list). It's a formal 'bill' showing the 'fare' (food) available.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION AS A LIST (The meal is conceptualized as a transaction itemized on a formal document).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts would 'bill of fare' be MOST appropriate today?