finger food

noun

plural finger foods

: a food that is meant to be picked up with the fingers and eaten

Finger foods like apple wedges and strawberries dipped in yogurt make an excellent snack for both parent and child.

—The Knoxville (Tennessee) News-Sentinel

Mashed potatoes are not a finger food.

—Erma Bombeck

Examples of finger food in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to Huckleberry Care, BLW is an approach to introducing solids that encourages babies to feed themselves from the start with finger foods, promoting independence and fine motor development. —Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025

There’s a growing popularity of grazing Easter lunches, which feature cheese boards, dips, cured meats and finger foods. —Food Drink Life, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2025

Fine dining made San Sebastian a global pilgrimage site for foodies, but wine and finger food are its heart and soul. —Colin Wrenn, The Denver Post, 25 Mar. 2025

But why limit ranch to dipping finger foods or flavoring everyone's favorite casserole? —Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for finger food

• altitude
• amplitude
• aptitude
• attitude
• barbecued
• certitude
• desuetude
• devalued
• finitude
• fortitude
• gratitude
• interlude

Kids Definition

finger food

noun

: a food (as a carrot stick) that is meant to be picked up with the fingers and eaten