Entree vs Entry Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on entree vs entry. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
Flip Cards: Quick Review
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The main course of a meal.
“I ordered the salmon as my entrée.”
The starter, served before the main course.
“For entrée, we shared a soup.”
The act of entering, or an item in a list, contest or record.
“Her entry won first prize.”
The door or way in, or the act of coming in.
“The entrance is on the left.”
Entree vs entry confuses many writers because the two words look alike, sound partly alike and share a root. One belongs on a menu, and the other belongs on a form, a list or a doorway. Here is how to keep them straight.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrée (US and Canada) | The main course of a meal | Noun / food | The entrée was grilled chicken with rice. |
| Entrée (France, Australia and elsewhere) | The starter before the main course | Noun / food | We had a small salad as an entrée. |
| Entry | The act of entering, or an item added to a list, contest or record | Noun / general | Please submit your entry by Friday. |
| Entrance | A door or way in, or the act of coming in | Noun / place or action | The restaurant entrance was crowded. |
What does “entrée” mean?
An entrée is a dish served as part of a meal, and its exact position depends on where you are.
In the United States and Canada, the entrée is the main course. That is the big dish you order after the appetizer, such as steak, pasta or grilled fish.
In French, and in countries like Australia and New Zealand, the entrée is the starter, served before the main course. In the UK the word is less common on menus, and “starter” is the usual term.
What does “entry” mean?
An entry is the act of entering, or something that has been entered into a list, contest, diary or database.
You might send an entry to a competition, write a diary entry, or read a dictionary entry. It also appears in phrases like “entry fee,” “entry-level job” and “no entry.” None of these has anything to do with food.
Entree vs entry: how are they different?
The difference is simple: an entrée is a dish, while an entry is an act or an item in a record.
- Entrée: you eat it, order it or share it at a restaurant.
- Entry: you submit it, record it or pass through it.
If you can put it on a plate, the word is entrée. If you can submit it, log it or walk through it, the word is entry.
Why does “entrée” mean different things in different countries?
The word started as French for “entry,” and its meaning shifted differently as it spread.
In traditional French dining, the entrée named a course early in the meal, and French menus still use it that way. American English later moved the word to the main dish, which is why the same word can describe different parts of the meal depending on the country.
When you are writing for an international audience, “main course” and “starter” are the clearest choices.
Is “entree” without the accent correct?
Yes, English accepts both “entrée” and “entree.”
The unaccented form is very common in American writing, especially on menus and in everyday text. Use the accent if your style guide asks for it, and stay consistent within one piece.
Is “entrance” the same as “entry”?
Not quite, although they overlap when you talk about going in.
“Entrance” usually means a door, a way in or the act of arriving, as in “the main entrance.” “Entry” more often means the act of entering or an item in a record, as in “no entry” or “a contest entry.”
How can you remember which one to use?
Ask whether you can eat it: if yes, write entrée, and if it goes on a form, list or record, write entry.
Common mistakes with entree and entry
- ✗ Please send your entrée to the writing contest.
✓ Please send your entry to the writing contest. - ✗ I ordered the pasta as my entry.
✓ I ordered the pasta as my entrée. - ✗ The diary entrée for May 3 was short.
✓ The diary entry for May 3 was short. - ✗ In the US, the entrée is the appetizer.
✓ In the US, the entrée is the main course. - ✗ We waited by the restaurant entrée.
✓ We waited by the restaurant entrance.
Memory tricks
- Double e means eat. The double e in entrée can remind you of “eat.”
- Entry sits with other records. Think of diary, registry and inquiry: lists and records end the same way.
- The plate test. If it goes on a plate, it is an entrée. If it goes on a form or through a door, it is an entry or an entrance.
Entree vs entry: frequently asked questions
Is an entrée a main course or an appetizer?
It depends on the country. In the US and Canada it is the main course. In France, Australia and New Zealand it is usually the starter.
Is “entree” without the accent correct?
Yes. Both entrée and entree are accepted in English, and the unaccented form is very common in American writing.
What is the plural of entrée and entry?
The plural of entrée is entrées (or entrees), and the plural of entry is entries.
Can I say entry for a main dish?
No. Use entrée for a dish. Entry means the act of entering or an item added to a list, contest or record.
Where does entrée come from?
It comes from a French word meaning entry. In French it names the starter.
Entree vs entry: the bottom line
In the entree vs entry question, entrée is the dish and entry is the act or the item on a list. Check the country if you mean a course, and use “main course” or “starter” when you want to be clear. Share this with someone who mixes these up.