Dictionary

comfort food en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈkʌmfɚt ˌfud/ (General-American)
• (US) audio
• /ˈkʌmfət ˌfuːd/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From comfort + food. First use appears c. 1962 in the Independent (Pasadena, California).

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one's formative years, often a staple of diners and other informal restaurants.
   • Studies indicate that most adults, when under severe emotional stress, turn to what could be called "comfort food"—food associated with the security of childhood, like mother's poached egg or famous chicken soup. 1966 November 7, Joyce Brothers, “Obesity might be related to psychological problems”, in John O. Ferris, editor, The Muncie Star, volume 90, number 190, Muncie, Ind.: Muncie Newspapers, →OCLC, page 7, column 6:
   • People like soup. It's what a psychologist would call a comfort food. Easy to eat, easy to digest, hearty soups are quick energy builders. 1962 March 15, “Comfort foods for breakfast”, in Eugene Patterson, editor, The Atlanta Constitution, volume XCIV, number 229, Atlanta, Ga.: Ralph McGill, →OCLC, page 3-F, columns 1–2:
2. (countable, uncountable) Food, often high in carbohydrates or sugar, consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress rather than to receive nutrition.
   • [C]omfort food’s power may lie primarily in the associations it calls to mind. People who have positive family relationships are more likely to reach for reminders of those relationships in times of sadness—and often, those reminders come in the form of something edible. 2015 April 4, Cari Romm, “Why Comfort Food Comforts: A New Study Looks at the Intersection of Taste, Nostalgia, and Loneliness”, in Jeffrey Goldberg, editor, The Atlantic, Washington, D.C.: The Atlantic Monthly Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 07 Jun 2021:
   • After the relationship ended, she overindulged on comfort food every night.
   • In his recently published "The Thin Book by a Formerly Fat Psychiatrist," Dr. [Theodore Isaac] Rubin applauds "comfort foods" for dieters. He states that it is important for dieters to have a comforting food on hand that can be quickly prepared – "fat people are most receptive to comfort." At the top of his list of comfort foods is tea. He recommends it to dieters because it's calorie-free, can be drunk hot or cold and gives a little lift … 1966 March 25, Betty Boxold, “Betty’s Column”, in A. A. Smyser, editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, home edition, volume 55, number 145, Honolulu, Hi.: Porter Dickinson, →ISSN, →OCLC, page C-2, column 1:

Forms

Relateds

comfort-eat · eat one's feelings · comfort eating · grub out · comfortfic · soul food

Translations (27)

fr aliment-doudou (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · fr aliment réconfortant (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · jv olahan omahan (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · pl jedzenie domowe (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · id makanan rumahan (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · it cibo di conforto (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · he אוכל מנחם \ אֹכֶל מְנַחֵם (food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress) · nl troostvoedsel (food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress) · cmn 報復餐 /报复餐 (food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress) · pt comida de conforto (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · hi घर का खाना (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · it comfort food (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · it cibo consolatorio (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · ja コンフォート・フード (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · nl troosteten (food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress) · fr aliment-réconfort (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · pt comida caseira (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · de Seelentröster (food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress) · de Nervennahrung (food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress) · hi सांत्वनादायक भोजन (food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress) · ja 御袋の味 (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · bg успокоя́ваща храна́ (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · ja ストレス解消食 (food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress) · cmn 媽媽的味道 /妈妈的味道 (simple, comforting home-cooked-style food associated with one’s formative years) · ja コンフォートフード (food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress) · pl jedzenie do poprawy nastroju (food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress) · fi lohturuoka (food consumed to feel comfort or alleviate stress)