bartender

[bahr-ten-der] / ˈbɑrˌtɛn dər /

NOUN

one who serves drinks at a bar

Synonyms

STRONGEST

barkeep barkeeper mixologist tapster

STRONG

alewife barmaid barman publican tapper taverner victualler

WEAK

boniface butler soda jerk steward vintner

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The son of a bartender and a liquor salesman, he was raised in Portland, Ore. — which he and his family still called home.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2026

Instead of texting the bartender, as you might have done 20 years ago, you’re expected to plan ahead enough to book a two-top on Resy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Once the bartender spots me, she starts preparing a margarita — with lots of love, as she likes to describe it.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Nguyen Van Giảng, a bartender at the historic Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel, is said to have invented the drink during a midcentury milk shortage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

Ignatius looked over at the bar to try to attract some sort of service and caught the eye of the bartender who had served his mother and him.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole