forkful: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Domestic
Quick answer
What does “forkful” mean?
The amount of food that can be held on a fork at one time.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The amount of food that can be held on a fork at one time.
A unit of measurement for a quantity of food taken with a fork; occasionally used metaphorically for a small, discrete amount of something non-physical (e.g., data, information).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The spelling is the same.
Connotations
None specific to either variety.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “forkful” in a Sentence
a/an + ADJ + forkful + of + NOUNVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, except perhaps in descriptive social science writing about eating habits.
Everyday
Used in domestic and informal dining contexts.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “forkful”
- Using it for liquids (use 'spoonful').
- Using 'forkfuls' as an uncountable noun (it is countable: 'two forkfuls').
- Confusing with 'forkful' as an adjective (it is a noun).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is relatively low frequency. Words like 'spoonful' or 'handful' are more common.
Rarely and only in a metaphorical sense (e.g., 'a forkful of data'). Its primary use is strictly for food eaten with a fork.
The standard plural is 'forkfuls'. The older form 'forksful' is now considered archaic and incorrect.
Yes. A 'forkful' is defined by the utensil and may or may not be a single mouthful. A 'mouthful' is defined by the capacity of the mouth. A large forkful might require two bites.
The amount of food that can be held on a fork at one time.
Forkful is usually informal, domestic in register.
Forkful: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːkfʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːrkfʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Every forkful tells a story (rare, poetic).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a fork FULL of spaghetti. The word itself combines 'fork' and '-ful' (meaning 'full of').
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS CONTAINER CONTENT (a forkful is the amount contained by a fork).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'forkful' correctly?