potluck

noun

pot·​luck ˈpät-ˈlək 

 sense 1b also  -ˌlək

1

a

: the regular meal available to a guest for whom no special preparations have been made

b

: a communal meal to which people bring food to share

—usually used attributively

a potluck supper

2

: whatever is offered or available in given circumstances or at a given time

Examples of potluck in a Sentence

He organized a neighborhood potluck for next Saturday.

Recent Examples on the Web

Also potluck lunch, socializing, fossil hunting and camping. —Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2025

The shelter was overflowing with food donations, so school administrators redirected the potluck to feed firefighters and police officers. —Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2025

Wong began hosting family potlucks herself, using the opportunity to teach skeptical relatives about food safety. —Lucy Tu, NBC News, 11 Jan. 2025

Turkeys, sides, sweets, tamales, latkes, cookies, black-eyed peas and potluck contributions. —Judy Knotts, Austin American-Statesman, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

potluck

noun

pot·​luck ˈpät-ˈlək 

1

a

: a regular meal for which no special preparations have been made

b

: a meal to which people bring food to share

2

: whatever is offered or available in given circumstances or at a given time