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Definition of bento

bento

/ˈbɛn.toʊ/
ben · to
Plural:bentos
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bento Lexical Profile

bento Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A single-portion takeout or home-packed meal of Japanese origin, typically consisting of rice or noodles, fish or meat, and pickled and cooked vegetables served in a box with separate compartments.

Example

"For lunch, she ordered a salmon teriyaki bento that came with miso soup, steamed rice, and pickled radish."

2

A partitioned container or box, traditionally made of lacquered wood or modern plastic, used for holding and serving a Japanese-style packed meal.

Example

"He washed the compartmentalized bento carefully by hand so the decorative lacquer finish would not peel."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for bento

• Rhymes for bento

• Nearby Words

beninese
benjamin
bent
bento
bentwood
benue
bequeath

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese bentō, which itself derived from a Southern Song dynasty Chinese slang term, biàndāng, meaning 'convenient' or 'useful.'

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bento. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bento
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