decanter

American  

[dih-kan-ter] / dɪˈkæn tər /

noun

1. a vessel, usually an ornamental glass bottle, for holding and serving wine, brandy, or the like.

2. a bottle used for decanting.

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decanter British  

/ dɪˈkæntə /

noun

1. a stoppered bottle, usually of glass, into which a drink, such as wine, is poured for serving

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Etymology

Origin of decanter

First recorded in 1705–15; decant + -er ¹

Explanation

Want an extra fancy way to serve a beverage? Put it in a decanter, an elegant glass container with a stopper. A decanter is similar to a carafe, a wide-mouthed vessel for serving liquids, except it has a narrower neck and a stopper. Particularly ornate decanters are made of cut crystal and are meant to hold wine, which some people believe should "breathe" before being poured and sipped. Decanter comes from the verb decant, "to pour," and its Medieval Latin source, decanthare, "pour from the edge of a vessel."

Example Sentences

West Brom captain Darren Fletcher presented Pulis with a Ship's Decanter at the club's training ground to commemorate his 1,000th match as a manager, the day before they played his old club Stoke.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

Hewson contributes articles on Champagne and sparkling wines to the U.K.-based magazine Decanter and writes his own Champagne and sparkling-wine Substack, Six Atmospheres.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

Given the color of the glass and the sand-looking base, JK3D’s Flora Decanter was born in Los Angeles to make a statement.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2024

At last year's Decanter World Wine Awards, the UK won its highest ever number of medals.

From Reuters • Oct. 16, 2023

Note the exquisite cutting on this Decanter LIX.

From Colonial Homes and Their Furnishings by Northend, Mary H.

Related Words

• carafe
• flask
• jug