boiled dinner: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Not exactly. While both are one-pot meals, a stew usually involves smaller pieces of meat simmered in a thickened gravy, whereas a boiled dinner typically features a large joint of meat (like corned beef) and whole or large-cut vegetables boiled in water or broth, resulting in a clearer cooking liquid.

You might be understood descriptively, but it is not a standard or common term in British English. Listeners would likely interpret it literally as 'a dinner that has been boiled' rather than recognising it as the name of a specific dish with cultural connotations.

Corned beef (salt-cured brisket) is the most iconic and common meat associated with the dish, especially in its New England and Irish-American versions. Ham or other cured meats are also used.

It is an informal term. In formal culinary or menu contexts, a dish might be described more specifically (e.g., "Corned Beef with Braised Root Vegetables") rather than labelled simply 'boiled dinner'.

A one-pot dish consisting of meat (often corned beef) and root vegetables boiled together.

Boiled dinner: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɔɪld ˈdɪnə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɔɪld ˈdɪnər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.