"Sandwitch" is a misspelling of "sandwich," a food item that consists of two or more slices of bread with various fillings placed between them.

"Sandwich" as a noun versus a verb

As a noun, sandwiches are dishes with various fillings. The fillings of sandwiches can include a wide variety of ingredients such as meats (e.g., turkey, ham, roast beef), cheeses, vegetables (e.g., lettuce, tomatoes, onions), condiments (e.g., mayonnaise, mustard), and spreads (e.g., peanut butter, jam). Sandwiches are a versatile and popular food choice because they can be customized to suit individual preferences. They are often served cold (e.g., deli sandwiches) but can also be heated (e.g., grilled cheese sandwich, panini) or served hot (e.g., meatball sub). Sandwiches come in countless variations and are enjoyed worldwide in various forms, making them a convenient and satisfying meal or snack option.

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As a verb, to "sandwich" means to place or insert something between two other things. This verb can be used to describe such actions even if it is not related to food. Take this sentence for example:

  • The small town is sandwiched between two large cities.

In this example, the small town is in an area between two large cities. Typically the verb "sandwiched" implies that there is not much space between the thing being sandwiched and the things that are sandwiching it. Therefore, the small city is likely close to both larger cities.

In both noun and verb forms, "sandwich" is associated with the concept of placing or layering something between two other items, whether it is ingredients in a meal or objects in a physical space.

How did the misspelling "sandwitch" come about?

The spelling of the word "witch," which is completely unrelated to "sandwich," is contained in the misspelled "sandwitch." Because "witch" is pronounced much like the "wich" in the correctly spelled "sandwich," people may get confused and incorrectly write "sandwitch." The only correct spelling of the word, however, is "sandwich."

The use of "sandwich" across time

As shown in the chart above, the correctly spelled "sandwich" dominates in terms of the number of uses over the incorrect misspelling "sandwitch."

The earliest known use of the noun "sandwich" is from the writing of a historian named Edward Gibbon in 1762 according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

The first record of "sandwich" being used as a verb was in the next century in 1815 in the writings of J. Wilson.

There are obsolete or extremely rare uses of "sandwich" as nouns (a black, gray, and white tern found in Europe and Africa, etc.), but because they are so rare, the progression of their use will not be discussed.

Example sentences

As a noun (food item):

  1. The tuna salad sandwich I had for lunch was delicious.
  2. Can I have a ham and cheese sandwich, please?
  3. He made a hearty roast beef sandwich with all the fixings.
  4. The kids enjoy simple sandwiches at the luncheon.
  5. She ordered a veggie sandwich with avocado and sprouts.

As a verb (action of assembling or placing):

  1. She carefully sandwiched the delicate flower between two sheets of wax paper.
  2. He decided to sandwich the layers of the cake with a rich chocolate ganache.
  3. To keep the papers organized, he sandwiched the important ones in a binder.
  4. The construction crew will sandwich the insulation material between the walls.
  5. She skillfully sandwiched the thin slices of cucumber between the slices of bread for the tea party.

Practice questions

Can you tell when "sandwich" is being used as a noun or verb? Try writing down which "sandwich" is being used as in the following practice questions. The answers are at the end of the page.

  1. She made a delicious sandwich with turkey and cheese.
  2. He loves to sandwich the tomato slices between lettuce leaves.
  3. The classic BLT sandwich is a favorite at this café.
  4. I'll sandwich the layers of cake with cream filling.
  5. She's planning to sandwich the documents between two heavy books to flatten them.
  6. We enjoyed a picnic with sandwiches and fruit.
  7. He ordered a club sandwich for lunch.
  8. Don't forget to sandwich the pickles inside the burger.
  9. The kids always ask for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
  10. He likes to sandwich his meetings between his morning and afternoon tasks.
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Answers to the practice questions

  1. Noun
  2. Verb
  3. Noun
  4. Verb
  5. Verb
  6. Noun
  7. Noun
  8. Verb
  9. Noun
  10. Verb

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Reference:

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Oxford English Dictionary
The OED is the definitive record of the English language, featuring 600,000 words, 3 million quotations, and over 1,000 years of English.
Oxford University Press
Definition of SANDWICH
two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between; one slice of bread covered with food… See the full definition
Merriam-Webster Logo
Sandwich Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
SANDWICH meaning: 1 : two pieces of bread with something (such as meat, peanut butter, etc.) between them; 2 : two or more cookies, crackers, or slices of cake with something between them
Britannica Dictionary
sandwich
“sandwich” published on by null.
Oxford ReferenceUpdate