patty: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Intermediate (B1-B2). Common in culinary/food contexts.Neutral to informal. Common in everyday speech, menus, cooking instructions, and food packaging.
Quick answer
What does “patty” mean?
a small, flat, round portion of ground or minced food, typically meat, but can also refer to vegetables or other ingredients, shaped for cooking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a small, flat, round portion of ground or minced food, typically meat, but can also refer to vegetables or other ingredients, shaped for cooking.
Can refer to the cooked item (e.g., a hamburger patty) or the raw, shaped portion before cooking. Also used for certain small, flat cakes or pastries, like a peppermint patty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'burger' is often used where US English uses 'patty' for the meat portion alone (e.g., 'a beef burger' vs. 'a beef patty'). 'Patty' is understood but less frequent in UK everyday speech for savoury items. The sweet 'peppermint patty' is a branded term known in both.
Connotations
US: Strong, default association with hamburgers. UK: May sound slightly more American or specific to food industry/recipes.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English. In British English, 'burger' or 'cake' (e.g., 'fishcake') often cover similar semantic ground.
Grammar
How to Use “patty” in a Sentence
[verb] + patty: form, shape, grill, flip, season, buy, defrostVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in food manufacturing, supply chain (e.g., 'patty production line'), and fast-food operations.
Academic
Rare; might appear in nutritional studies, food science, or sociology of food.
Everyday
Extremely common in home cooking, BBQ contexts, and dining out.
Technical
Used in culinary arts and food technology specifications (size, weight, composition).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “patty”
- Using 'patty' for a breaded chicken cutlet (should be 'chicken patty' only if ground/minced). Confusing 'patty' with 'pastry' (though a 'patty shell' is a pastry case).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While traditionally associated with meat (especially beef), the term is productively used for any shaped, flat portion of ground or minced food, including vegetables, legumes, fish, or grains (e.g., veggie patty, lentil patty).
In American English, 'patty' refers specifically to the shaped, flat piece of food. 'Burger' or 'hamburger' refers to the entire sandwich (patty + buns + toppings). In British English, 'burger' can refer to the patty itself (e.g., 'a beef burger').
Yes, though less common. The primary example is a 'peppermint patty'—a chocolate-covered mint cream confection. It can also refer to small, flat cakes or pastries in some contexts.
Use it as a count noun to describe the individual portions formed from a mixture. E.g., 'Divide the mixture into six equal parts and form each into a patty about 1 cm thick.'
a small, flat, round portion of ground or minced food, typically meat, but can also refer to vegetables or other ingredients, shaped for cooking.
Patty is usually neutral to informal. common in everyday speech, menus, cooking instructions, and food packaging. in register.
Patty: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpæt.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpæt̬.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “party (homophone pun, e.g., 'It's a patty party!') – informal/playful.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Patty' as a name for a flat, friendly cake you 'pat' into shape with your hands.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD IS A SHAPED OBJECT (crafted by hand).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be described as a 'patty'?