What is the Meaning of "Meat"?

Definition of Meat

Quick Meaning of Meat

Animal flesh that people eat for protein.

Detailed Definition of Meat

The flesh of an animal used as food.

How to Pronounce Meat

IPA: /miːt/

meat

Stress pattern: O (1-syllable word).

Tip: Rhymes with 'beat' and 'feet'. Long 'ee' sound /iː/.

Full pronunciation guide for “meat” →

Origin and Etymology of Meat

Old English mete, related to 'meal' meaning food.

How to Use Meat in a Sentence

Each example shows “meat” with a CEFR level so learners can pick examples that match their fluency.

“We bought fresh meat at the market.”

A1 daily
“She doesn't eat meat because she's vegetarian.”

A2 conversation
“The butcher recommended the lean meat for grilling.”

B1 daily

Synonyms and Antonyms of Meat

Common Synonyms for Meat

Smart Synonyms for Meat — When to Use Each

flesh: technical or formal term for animal muscle tissue
poultry: when specifically referring to chicken or bird meat
beef: when talking specifically about cattle meat

See all synonyms for “meat” →

Common Collocations with Meat

These phrases pair with “meat” in everyday English:

red meat
ground meat
meat sauce
buy meat

Common Mistakes When Using Meat

Even fluent speakers slip up with “meat”. Here’s how to avoid the most common errors:

✗ Wrong: I bought three meats from the butcher.: ✓ Correct: I bought three types of meat from the butcher.; Why: Meat is uncountable; use 'types of meat' or 'cuts of meat' instead.
✗ Wrong: The meat are fresh today.: ✓ Correct: The meat is fresh today.; Why: Uncountable nouns take singular verbs, not plural.

Words Confused With Meat

Meat vs Meet: Homophones: meet means to encounter; meat is food Compare →

Other Forms of Meat

Noun: meat