picnic

1 of 2

noun

pic·​nic ˈpik-(ˌ)nik 

often attributive

1

: an excursion or outing with food usually provided by members of the group and eaten in the open

also : the food provided for a picnic

2

a

: a pleasant or amusingly carefree experience

I don't expect being married to be a picnic

—Josephine Pinckney

b

: an easy task or feat

3

: a shoulder of pork with much of the butt removed

picnicky

ˈpik-(ˌ)ni-kē 

adjective

picnic

2 of 2

verb

picnicked; picnicking

intransitive verb

: to go on a picnic : eat in picnic fashion

picnicker noun

Synonyms

Noun

• beer and skittles
• easy street
• fun and games
• hog heaven

Examples of picnic in a Sentence

Noun

We decided to have a picnic on the beach.

We ate our picnic by the lake.

The annual school picnic is this weekend.

This winter is a picnic compared with last year's.

Verb

We picnicked in the park.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Amenities at Blue Spring State Park are pretty standard for Florida state parks and include picnic areas with shaded benches and grills for barbecuing. —Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 3 Dec. 2024

Stop by: 1000 Riverwalk Parkway Stroll around Glencairn Garden: This 11-acre botanical garden is open to the public and makes for a scenic picnic spot, too. —Mckenzie Rankin, Axios, 26 Nov. 2024

Verb

They are protected by state law as well as the Department of Natural Resources rules that prohibit visitors from walking over or picnicking on burial mounds. —Vanessa Swales, Journal Sentinel, 16 Oct. 2024

The Granite Basin Recreation Area offers year-round recreation opportunities including hiking, horse riding, non-motorized boating, rock climbing, fishing, camping, and picnicking at the quiet spots by the water. —Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

German or French; German Picknick, from French pique-nique

First Known Use

Noun

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1815, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing picnic

• picnic table

Kids Definition

picnic

1 of 2 noun

pic·​nic ˈpik-(ˌ)nik 

1

: a meal eaten outdoors often during a trip away from home

2

a

: a pleasant or carefree experience

breaking a leg is no picnic

b

: an easy task

3

: a shoulder of pork that is often smoked and boned

picnicky adjective

picnic

2 of 2 verb

picnicked; picnicking

: to go on a picnic : eat as if on a picnic

picnicker noun