full board
B1-B2Neutral to formal; common in travel/tourism contexts, less common in everyday general conversation.
Definition
Meaning
A type of accommodation, typically in a hotel or guesthouse, where the price includes three daily meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
Can figuratively refer to any arrangement providing complete sustenance or comprehensive provision. In non-hospitality contexts, sometimes used to describe a comprehensive package of services or support.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often contrasted with 'half board' (breakfast and one main meal) and 'bed and breakfast' (breakfast only). The term focuses on the provision of meals, not the quality or type of room.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used and understood in both varieties, but 'American Plan' (AP) is a common, more formal synonym in North American hotel industry terminology. In casual US speech, 'all meals included' is also frequent.
Connotations
In BrE, it's a standard, neutral tourism term. In AmE, 'full board' can sound slightly more British or international; 'American Plan' sounds more domestically professional.
Frequency
Higher frequency in BrE. In AmE, 'all-inclusive' (which often includes drinks and activities) is a more common promotional term, though it is not a perfect synonym.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The hotel offers + full board.We booked + full board.The price includes + full board.Is + full board + available?on + a full board basisVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On full board”
- “Full board terms”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in tourism/hospitality contracts, pricing sheets, and package descriptions.
Academic
Rare; might appear in tourism management or hospitality studies.
Everyday
Used when discussing holiday plans, hotel bookings, or comparing costs.
Technical
A specific category in hotel reservation systems (HB/BB codes).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- We chose the full-board option for convenience.
- The full-board rate was surprisingly good value.
American English
- They offer a full-board package at the lakeside resort.
- Is there a full-board plan available?
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The hotel price includes full board.
- Do you want full board or just breakfast?
- We compared prices and found that full board was only £10 more per day.
- The summer camp provides full board for all participants.
- Opting for full board simplified our budgeting, as all meals were pre-paid.
- The guesthouse proprietor recommended half board, as many local restaurants were worth trying, making full board unnecessary.
- The conference fee covered full board and lodging at the university's halls of residence.
- While the full-board arrangement was comprehensive, some guests found it restrictive, preferring to explore the local culinary scene.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FULL dining table BOARD set with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUSTENANCE IS A PROVIDED PLATFORM (board).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'board' literally as 'доска'. It's a historical term from 'room and board' where 'board' meant the dining table. Avoid 'полный пансион' unless the Russian context strictly matches three meals; sometimes 'полный пансион' implies more services.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'full board' to mean all-inclusive (with drinks/activities).
- Saying 'full boarding' (incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'half board'.
- Using it as an adjective without a hyphen (e.g., 'full-board rate' is often hyphenated).
Practice
Quiz
What is typically NOT included in a standard 'full board' arrangement?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Full board' typically includes only three main meals. 'All-inclusive' usually includes all meals, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), snacks, and often activities and entertainment.
Yes, it can be used to describe a boarding school where pupils live and receive all meals on-site, though 'full boarding' is more common in that specific context.
The direct opposite in accommodation terms is 'room only' or 'self-catering'. The more common contrast is 'half board' (two meals) or 'bed and breakfast' (one meal).
Yes, it can be used for any length of stay, from a weekend to a month. It simply describes the meal provision included in the price.