A beefsteak is a thick slice of beef cut specifically for cooking and eating as a main dish. When you order a beefsteak at a restaurant, you're getting a substantial piece of meat, usually grilled or pan-seared, that forms the centerpiece of your meal.

The word combines beef (meat from cattle) with steak (a thick slice of meat or fish). Different cuts make different beefsteaks: a ribeye comes from near the ribs and has flavorful fat running through it, a tenderloin is extremely tender, and a sirloin offers a balance of flavor and texture. Each cut has its own characteristics, but they're all beefsteaks.

People have strong opinions about how beefsteak should be cooked. Some prefer it rare (cooked briefly so the inside stays red), while others want it well-done (cooked thoroughly). The debate over the “right” way to cook a beefsteak has probably started more family arguments than you'd expect over a simple piece of meat.

The word also describes a type of large, meaty tomato called a beefsteak tomato, so named because its size, weight, and dense flesh reminded people of an actual beefsteak. These tomatoes are popular for slicing onto sandwiches.