vinaigrette

noun

vin·​ai·​grette ˌvi-ni-ˈgret How to pronounce vinaigrette (audio)
1
: a sauce made typically of oil, vinegar, and seasonings and used especially on salads, cold meats, or fish

called also vinaigrette dressing

2
: a small ornamental box or bottle with perforated top used for holding an aromatic preparation (such as smelling salts)

Examples of vinaigrette in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There’s an enormous green salad—bitter mustard greens, frilly arugula, and hunks of sweet dates and almonds tossed in a sharp vinaigrette—served in a satisfyingly big, deep bowl. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2024 Sliced thinly or chopped like kale, the raw leaves tossed first with a little salt play nicely with all types of vinaigrettes and flavor combinations. Adrienne Cheatham, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 Lunch was almost always a big, leafy salad with lots of legumes and whole grains—and the dressings, like a cranberry vinaigrette or an avocado tahini, were always flavorful enough on their own. Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 27 Feb. 2024 The tender fish practically melted in my mouth and was punctuated by herbaceous bursts from the salad and tangy vinaigrette. The Arizona Republic, 1 Feb. 2024 There’s nothing quite like cool, light, leafy greens in a sharp vinaigrette to wake up your palate, and then cleanse it between the rich, hot bites of hearty breakfast casserole. Julia Levy, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2024 Holiday dining at Patties & Pints: On Christmas Day, this restaurant will serve a $39 three-course dinner with winter green salad featuring brie cheese and kumquats with Meyer lemon vinaigrette; New York steak with roasted vegetables, fondant potatoes and gravy; and yule log dessert. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Dec. 2023 Add lentils, veggies, and chili crisp to the bowl and dress with your favorite vinaigrette. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024 Whole parsley leaves are tossed with mixed chicories, slices of pickled winter squash, and an apple cider vinaigrette for nice palate-cleansing acidity. Sunset Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vinaigrette.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from vinaigre vinegar

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of vinaigrette was in 1811

Dictionary Entries Near vinaigrette

Cite this Entry

“Vinaigrette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vinaigrette. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vinaigrette

noun
vin·​ai·​grette ˌvin-i-ˈgret How to pronounce vinaigrette (audio)
: a sauce made of oil, vinegar, and seasonings and used especially on salads, cold meats, or fish

More from Merriam-Webster on vinaigrette

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