meals on wheels: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal; commonly used in official, social service, and journalistic contexts.
Quick answer
What does “meals on wheels” mean?
A community service that delivers prepared meals to people who are unable to cook for themselves, typically due to age, disability, or illness.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A community service that delivers prepared meals to people who are unable to cook for themselves, typically due to age, disability, or illness.
Any system or organization that delivers ready-to-eat food directly to recipients' homes. Can be used metaphorically to describe any service that brings essential goods directly to those in need.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'Meals on Wheels' is strongly associated with local council or charity services for the elderly. In the US, it is a federally-funded program under the Older Americans Act, often administered by Area Agencies on Aging. The US term is more consistently capitalized as a proper noun.
Connotations
UK: Strong historical connection to post-WWII welfare state and community volunteers. US: Connotes a specific government-supported nutrition program for seniors.
Frequency
Equally common and well-understood in both varieties. Slightly more frequent in UK media due to ongoing public debate about social care funding.
Grammar
How to Use “meals on wheels” in a Sentence
[Recipient] receives meals on wheels.[Organization] provides meals on wheels to [recipient].[Volunteer] delivers meals on wheels.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meals on wheels” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She relies on the meals-on-wheels service.
American English
- He is a meals-on-wheels recipient.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might appear in social enterprise or non-profit business plans.
Academic
Used in social policy, gerontology, and public health research discussing community care models.
Everyday
Common in discussions about elderly relatives, community support, or local volunteering.
Technical
Used in social work, healthcare planning, and municipal service documentation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meals on wheels”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “meals on wheels”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meals on wheels”
- Using incorrect prepositions ('meals in wheels', 'meals by wheels'). Treating it as a plural countable noun incorrectly ('a meals on wheels').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is often capitalized when referring to the official organization or program (Meals on Wheels), but not when used generically.
Typically, eligibility is based on need, such as age, disability, or recent hospitalization. It is not a commercial food delivery service.
Usually, volunteers deliver the meals, which is a key social aspect of the service.
It is often subsidized or offered on a donation/sliding-scale basis, rather than being completely free in all areas.
A community service that delivers prepared meals to people who are unable to cook for themselves, typically due to age, disability, or illness.
Meals on wheels is usually neutral to formal; commonly used in official, social service, and journalistic contexts. in register.
Meals on wheels: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmiːlz ɒn ˈwiːlz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmilz ɑn ˈ(h)wilz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not exactly meals on wheels (used to humorously criticize poor-quality or late food delivery).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine meals arriving ON WHEELS (in a car or van) to someone's home.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOBILITY IS CARE (the movement of the vehicle metaphorically represents the movement of care and support to a static individual).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of 'meals on wheels'?