1. a person who regularly eats meals with another, especially in a military or institutional setting
Usage: military; institutional
2. a shipmate or fellow crew member who shares meals
Usage: nautical

Examples

• The soldiers became close friends with their messmates during basic training.
• He sat with his usual messmates in the cafeteria.
• The captain dined with his messmates in the officers’ quarters.
• New recruits were assigned messmates to help them adjust to military life.
• The sailors shared stories with their messmates during dinner.
• She looked forward to meals with her messmates at the boarding school.