self-catering

self-catering — adjective

IPA/ˌself ˈkeɪtərɪŋ/
IPA/ˌself ˈkeɪtərɪŋ/

1. describes a type of holiday accommodation that has a kitchen or cooking area, le

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes a type of holiday accommodation that has a kitchen or cooking area, letting you prepare food for yourself instead of having meals served by the provider

Example

Joon rented a self-catering apartment near the beach in Barcelona for a week.

collocation: self-catering + apartment

Self-catering cottages in the Scottish Highlands often have a wood-burning stove and a full kitchen.

collocation: self-catering + cottage

Common collocations
  • self-catering apartment
  • self-catering cottage
  • self-catering villa
  • self-catering accommodation
  • self-catering holiday
Synonyms
  • self-contained

    broader term — means having its own facilities (kitchen, bathroom, entrance); not limited to cooking

  • apartment-style

    focuses on the layout rather than the meal arrangement; common in American English

Antonyms
  • all-inclusive

    a holiday where all meals and drinks are included in the price

  • catered

    meals are provided and prepared for you, often in a hotel or lodge setting

Grammar Patterns

self-catering + noun (accommodation / apartment / cottage / villa / holiday)

Usage Note

Always used before a noun (attributive position). This term is common in British English travel contexts; American English more often uses phrases such as 'rental with kitchen' or 'vacation rental.'

Common Mistakes

We stayed in a self-catering.
We stayed in a self-catering apartment.
Self-catering is an adjective, not a standalone noun for the accommodation.
The hotel was self-catering.
The self-catering cottage was perfect for our family.
Hotels typically provide meals; self-catering describes rentals with cooking facilities, not hotels.

self-catering — noun

IPA/ˌselfˈkeɪ.tər.ɪŋ/
IPA/ˌselfˈkeɪ.t̬ɚ.ɪŋ/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Self-catering is the most specific term among these, describing accommodation that has cooking facilities and expects you to prepare your own meals. Self-contained is a broader term meaning the unit has its own kitchen, bathroom, and entrance — it may or may not be self-catering. Apartment-style describes the layout (separate rooms like a home) but says nothing about meal arrangements. Catered is the opposite: meals are provided, often in a hotel or lodge. All-inclusive goes further, covering meals, drinks, and activities in one price. For example: 'We booked a self-catering cottage with a kitchen' vs. 'We stayed in a catered lodge where breakfast and dinner were included.'

self-contained ↗apartment-stylecatered ↗all-inclusive ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • self-catering accommodation
  • a self-catering holiday

Prepositions

Etymology

EnglishOld FrenchLatin

Formed by combining the prefix 'self-' (meaning 'by oneself') with 'catering,' which comes from the verb 'cater' — to provide food and service. The term emerged in mid-20th-century British English as the holiday rental industry grew, offering travellers an alternative to hotels and boarding houses where meals were included.

First known use

1970

1970, in the meaning defined above