Pot luck or potluck?
pot luck is a noun meaning “Alternative form of potluck”; potluck is a noun meaning “Whatever is available in a particular situation”. pot luck is written as two words and potluck as one word; they are used differently.
What is the difference between pot luck and potluck?
| pot luck | potluck | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | noun | noun, verb |
| Meaning | Alternative form of potluck | Whatever is available in a particular situation USA shared meal consisting of whatever guests have brought (sometimes without prior arrangement); a potlatch; also, a dish of food brought to such a meal To take part in a potluck, where each participant brings a meal to be shared by all |
| Example | none recorded | Here are some leftover beans and meat; we can make a good potluck stew from them |
| Forms | none | potlucks |
| Pronunciation | not recorded | /ˌpɒtˈlʌk/ /ˈpɑtˌlʌk/ /-ˌlək/ |
| In writing | not counted (the list counts single words) | about once in every 3 million words |
Sources: pot luck and potluck in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of pot luck and potluck
pot luck
- 1
Alternative form of potluck
- 2
Alternative form of potluck
potluck
- 1
datedA meal, especially one offered to a guest, consisting of whatever food is available
Here are some leftover beans and meat; we can make a good potluck stew from them
- 2
To take part in a potluck, where each participant brings a meal to be shared by all
- 3
Whatever is available in a particular situation
- 4
USA shared meal consisting of whatever guests have brought (sometimes without prior arrangement); a potlatch; also, a dish of food brought to such a meal
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, pot luck or potluck?
pot luck is a phrase, which the list of single words does not count; potluck about once in every 3 million words.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).