waitstaff

noun

wait·​staff ˈwāt-ˌstaf How to pronounce waitstaff (audio)
: the staff of servers at a restaurant

Examples of waitstaff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web However, Bromwich noted that Hur's investigation has been so far-reaching that investigators even interviewed waitstaff who had worked an event at Biden's home in recent years to determine if they might have been exposed to classified documents. Mike Levine, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2024 And the friendly waitstaff — much like The Dude — abides. Philip Freeman, Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2024 Although the availability of non-casual dining declines every day, Miss Manners would like to believe that there is limited overlap between restaurants with paper napkins and those that employ roving waitstaff. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023 The upholstery and waitstaff may have been updated, but the café still retains many of its classical flourishes—including those unpolished brass fixtures. Keaton Bell, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2024 Photograph by Mary Kang Tying it all together As a nod to a defining event in Lubbock’s history, Walter included custom bolo ties in the waitstaff uniform. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 14 July 2023 This could be a humble Taos strip mall eatery or a simple-but-elegant mom-and-pop spot in Bar Harbor, Maine—always, I’m greeted by familiar aromas of garlic and ginger and warm chatter between the waitstaff in Cantonese or Mandarin. Rachel Ng, Outside Online, 1 Nov. 2022 The man is rude to waitstaff and picks his teeth at the dinner table. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2023 At bars and restaurants, Stewart stressed the importance of being polite to waitstaff; eating polite amounts of food at a time; and eating slowly. Staff Author, Peoplemag, 19 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'waitstaff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of waitstaff was in 1981

Dictionary Entries Near waitstaff

Cite this Entry

“Waitstaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waitstaff. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

waitstaff

noun
wait·​staff ˈwāt-ˌstaf How to pronounce waitstaff (audio)
: a staff of servers at a restaurant
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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