Definition

A line of people who are waiting to get free food from a charity or government organization.

Example

During the winter, many families stood in the breadline to receive meals.

Conversation

Did you see that long breadline outside the community center yesterday?

Yeah, I heard they were giving out free meals to those in need.

It’s really sad to see so many people waiting in line like that.

I agree, it shows how important it is to support local charities.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Breadline → The word is formed from "bread" (from Old English *brēad*, meaning a piece of bread or food) and "line" (from Old French *ligne*, meaning a line or queue). The term "breadline" refers to a line of people waiting for food, particularly in times of need or poverty.

Memory Tip

Think of 'bread' as a basic food and 'line' as a queue of people waiting for it — this helps you remember that a breadline is where people wait for food.

Visually Confused Words