family style

adverb or adjective

: with the food placed on the table in serving dishes from which those eating may help themselves

Examples of family style in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Drinks turned into dinner, family style, which is the only way my family and I eat, sharing everything. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2025 Everything is served family style, with nothing priced over $15. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2025 And with the new year, there's no better time to incorporate a new habit—family style. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Feb. 2025 Many of the courses are served family style (a nod to West African dining traditions) and the menu draws a focus on seafood and produce from local farmers in South Louisiana. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for family style

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of family style was in 1857

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Cite this Entry

“Family style.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family%20style. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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