bread line: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Both forms are correct. 'Breadline' is the standard closed compound in British English. 'Bread line' (two words) is more common in American English, though 'breadline' is also understood.

Yes, but more often in a figurative or historical sense. You might hear 'living on the breadline' to describe severe contemporary poverty, but literal queues for free bread are less common. The phrase retains its powerful connotation of destitution.

A 'bread line' refers specifically to the physical queue of people waiting for free food, often distributed from a soup kitchen or charity. A 'food bank' is the organisation or centre that stores and distributes food parcels, which people may collect without necessarily queuing on the street. The 'bread line' is the queue; the 'food bank' is the source.

No, the phrase is inherently negative, describing a situation of poverty and need. Using it neutrally (e.g., 'the bread line at the new bakery') would be incorrect and confusing, as it ignores the core connotation of charitable handout due to hardship.

A queue of poor or unemployed people waiting to receive free food or charity, especially during times of economic hardship.

Bread line is usually formal, journalistic, historical in register.

Bread line: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbredlaɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbred ˌlaɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.