café

1 of 2

noun

ca·​fé ka-ˈfā How to pronounce café (audio)
kə-
variants or less commonly cafe
Synonyms of café
often attributive
1
: a usually small and informal establishment serving various refreshments (such as coffee)
broadly : restaurant
2
: barroom
3
: cabaret, nightclub

CAFE

2 of 2

abbreviation

ka-ˈfā How to pronounce CAFE (audio)
corporate average fuel economy

Synonyms of café

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Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of café in a Sentence

Noun the café presents nationally known jazz performers in an intimate setting a speakeasy that became a fashionable café with the repeal of prohibition
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Mo Alhakim has owned and operated his cafe in San Francisco's Mid-Market corridor for over a decade. — Brad Hamilton, CBS News, 31 July 2026 In the final moments of the movie, Holland’s Peter Parker runs into his former best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) at a cafe. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 July 2026 Ayesha Curry just opened a cafe in Charlotte, but the former North Carolina resident isn’t stepping out of the spotlight yet. — Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026 The district opened in the spring and has begun to fill out its storefronts with cafes and restaurants. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for café

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French café coffee, café, from Turkish kahve — more at coffee

First Known Use

Noun

1802, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of café was in 1802

Phrases Containing café

Browse Nearby Words

cafard
café
CAFE
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Café.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caf%C3%A9. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

café

noun
ca·​fé
variants also cafe
ka-ˈfā How to pronounce café (audio)
kə-
1
: a usually small restaurant
2
: barroom
3
: nightclub
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