Luncheon vs. Lunch — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 5, 2023
Luncheon is a formal midday meal often involving guests; lunch is a casual midday meal.
Difference Between Luncheon and Lunch
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Luncheon typically refers to a formal or ceremonial midday meal, often associated with a gathering or event. Lunch, on the other hand, is the common term for the midday meal, generally informal and part of daily routine. While luncheon implies a certain level of formality or occasion, lunch is universally recognized as a casual, everyday meal.
A luncheon is often pre-planned and may involve a set menu, guests, and is sometimes part of professional or social functions. Lunch is usually a more spontaneous or less elaborate affair. Whether grabbing a quick sandwich or enjoying a leisurely meal, lunch doesn't carry the same connotations of ceremony that a luncheon does.
The word luncheon evokes images of table settings, courses, and perhaps a purpose behind the meal, such as a business luncheon or a charity luncheon. In contrast, lunch suggests a break in the day's activities to refuel, without any special significance attached to the meal itself. A worker may take a lunch break, but an organization may host a luncheon.
Luncheons often have invited guests, and there may be an agenda beyond the meal, like networking, fundraising, or celebrating a special occasion. A lunch is typically an everyday meal that can be enjoyed alone or with others but without the formal invite or broader purpose seen with luncheons.
In some contexts, luncheon can also be used to refer to the food served at this midday meal, whereas lunch can refer to both the meal and the food consumed. Despite these differences, in informal usage, the terms can sometimes be used interchangeably, with lunch being the more common term in modern usage.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Formality
Formal event or meal
Casual, everyday meal
Occasion
Often pre-planned with guests
Spontaneous or routine
Setting
May have multiple courses, table service
Simple, can be eaten anywhere
Purpose
Can be for networking, charity, or meetings
Typically has no agenda beyond eating
Common Use
Less common, more formal
Widely used, informal
Compare with Definitions
Luncheon
A formal midday meal for a group.
The club organized a luncheon for the retiring president.
Lunch
A meal eaten in the middle of the day.
She packed a sandwich for lunch.
Luncheon
A planned social gathering around a midday meal.
The luncheon included a talk by a renowned author.
Lunch
The food prepared for a midday meal.
Today's lunch includes soup and salad.
Luncheon
A midday meal served on a special occasion.
The wedding’s schedule included a luncheon between the ceremony and reception.
Lunch
A break in the workday for a meal.
He went out for lunch with colleagues.
Luncheon
A formal meal served to honor someone or commemorate an event.
They held a luncheon to celebrate the company's anniversary.
Lunch
A casual midday meal, as during a workday.
Lunch was a quick bite at the desk today.
Luncheon
A lunch, especially a formal one.
Lunch
The act of eating during the middle of the day.
Are you free to meet for lunch next week?
Luncheon
An afternoon party at which a light meal is served.
Lunch
Lunch, an abbreviation for luncheon, is a meal eaten around midday. During the 20th century, the meaning gradually narrowed to a meal eaten midday.
Luncheon
A formal meal served in the middle of the day.
Lunch
A meal eaten at midday.
Luncheon
(dated) Any midday meal; lunch.
Lunch
The food provided for a midday meal.
Luncheon
(obsolete) A lump of food.
Lunch
To eat a midday meal.
Luncheon
(obsolete) A portion of food taken at any time except at a regular meal; an informal or light repast.
Lunch
A light meal usually eaten around midday, notably when not as main meal of the day.
Luncheon
To eat luncheon.
Lunch
(cricket) A break in play between the first and second sessions.
Luncheon
A lump of food.
Lunch
Any small meal, especially one eaten at a social gathering.
After the funeral there was a lunch for those who didn't go to the cemetery.
Luncheon
A portion of food taken at any time except at a regular meal.
Lunch
(intransitive) To eat lunch.
I like to lunch in Italian restaurants.
Luncheon
A lunch, especially one organized by a group as a formal social gathering.
Lunch
(transitive) To treat to lunch.
Luncheon
To take luncheon.
Lunch
A luncheon; specifically, a light repast between breakfast and dinner, most commonly about noontime.
Luncheon
A midday meal
Lunch
To take luncheon.
Luncheon
A midday meal at which guests are formally invited.
The ambassador hosted a luncheon for visiting dignitaries.
Lunch
A midday meal
Lunch
Take the midday meal;
At what time are you lunching?
Lunch
Provide a midday meal for;
She lunched us well
Common Curiosities
Is it acceptable to use 'lunch' for formal events?
'Lunch' can be used, but adding qualifiers like 'business' can denote formality.
Can any midday meal be called a luncheon?
No, the term luncheon is reserved for more formal or organized midday meals.
Is a luncheon always more formal than lunch?
Typically, yes; luncheons are usually more formal than lunch.
Is there a difference in the type of food served at lunch vs luncheon?
Luncheons may have more elaborate or planned menus, while lunch is generally simpler.
Can luncheon refer to the food itself?
Yes, it can refer to the food served at a formal midday event.
Can lunch include formal events?
While less common, lunch can be formal if specified, like a business lunch.
Can lunch be a social event?
Absolutely, lunch can be social but is generally less formal than a luncheon.
Does the term 'luncheon' imply a specific dress code?
It may imply a more formal dress code than 'lunch.'
What is a 'ladies' luncheon'?
It's a formal midday gathering for women, often with a social or charitable focus.
Do luncheons always involve invitations?
Often, yes; luncheons usually involve planned invitations.
What kind of venues host luncheons?
Hotels, conference centers, and restaurants often host luncheons.
How long is a typical luncheon compared to lunch?
Luncheons can be longer due to speeches or presentations, unlike a typical lunch break.
Are luncheons common in professional settings?
Yes, they are often used for business networking or meetings.
Is the term 'luncheon' outdated?
It's less common than 'lunch' but still in use for formal daytime events.
Is 'lunch' ever used in a formal context?
Yes, with appropriate context, like 'lunch meeting,' it can be used formally.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Complacency vs. Complicity
Next Comparison
Spectrometer vs. SpectrophotometerAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
