Meeting or Meating: Which Is Correct?

Updated 2026-10-12 · Which One Is Correct editorial team

Quick answer: When deciding between meeting or meating, the correct spelling is always meeting. Meating is a misspelling of the word meeting, which refers to a gathering of people. This common error happens because people sometimes confuse the word with meat, the food. However, a gathering is not made of food, so the spelling must reflect the correct meaning. Remember that the letter i belongs in the middle of the word, not the letter e. Always choose the standard spelling to ensure your writing is clear and accurate for all readers.

The Short Answer

The correct spelling is meeting, while meating is a misspelling. Meat is the food, but a meeting is a gathering of people.

People often confuse these words because they sound similar. The root word meat suggests eating, which leads to the incorrect form meating. However, the word meeting comes from the verb to meet, meaning to come together. Since gatherings involve people coming together rather than eating food, the spelling must use the letter i. This distinction helps everyone understand exactly what is happening in the sentence.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Form	Status	Use it when
meeting	correct	you gather with others
meating	incorrect	never use this word
noun	part of speech	a scheduled gathering
verb	part of speech	to come together

Correct Example Sentences

We have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning.
The team meeting will start at nine o'clock.
Please join the meeting on the video call link.
Our weekly meeting happens every Friday.
The meeting was productive and helpful for everyone.
Did you send the agenda to the meeting?
The business meeting took place in the conference room.
I missed the important meeting last week.
Every meeting needs a clear goal to succeed.
The town meeting discussed the new park plan.

Common Mistakes and Fixes

I will go to the meating with my friends.: I will go to the meeting with my friends.
The meating was long and boring.: The meeting was long and boring.
We need to schedule the meating soon.: We need to schedule the meeting soon.
Her meating skills are very good.: Her meeting skills are very good.
The meating room was too small.: The meeting room was too small.
We missed the morning meating.: We missed the morning meeting.

A Quick Test You Can Use

To check if you have spelled the word correctly, ask yourself if people are coming together for a specific purpose. If the sentence describes a gathering of humans to discuss or decide something, use the spelling meeting. Avoid using the word if you are talking about cooking or eating, as that refers to the food meat. This simple check based on the meaning of the sentence ensures you always select the right form for your context.

Related Word Pairs

affect vs effect: affect is usually a verb meaning to change, while effect is usually a noun meaning a result.
accept vs except: accept means to receive or agree, while except means to exclude or leave out.
its vs it is: its shows possession without an apostrophe, while it is two words describing a state.
principal vs principle: principal refers to a main thing or a school leader, while principle refers to a rule or belief.
complement vs compliment: complement means to complete or go well with, while compliment means to praise or thank.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do people spell it meating sometimes?

People often spell it meating because they associate the word with the food meat. They mistakenly think the gathering involves eating, but the word actually comes from the verb to meet. Understanding the root word helps avoid this common spelling error in daily writing and communication.

What is the correct part of speech for meeting?

The word meeting can function as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to the gathering itself, such as a business meeting. As a verb, it describes the action of coming together with others to discuss something important.

How do I remember the correct spelling?

You can remember the correct spelling by thinking about the action of meeting people. Since you are meeting someone, you do not eat them, so do not put the letter e in the middle. Just remember that a gathering is not food, so the spelling must be meeting.