French dressing

American  

noun

(often lowercase)

1. salad dressing prepared chiefly from oil, vinegar, and seasonings.

2. a creamy and often sweet dressing, usually orange in color.

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French dressing British  

noun

1. a salad dressing made from oil and vinegar with seasonings; vinaigrette

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Etymology

Origin of French dressing

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

The sauce or dressing varieties are just as varied as ketchup, sweet mustard, spicy mustard, garlic and, the most popular, French dressing.

From Salon • Nov. 18, 2024

Come matchday, however, rumours reached the French dressing room that the Inter Milan striker was unwell so would not feature.

From BBC • Oct. 17, 2022

The Association for Dressings and Sauces said the standards set in place for French dressing 72 years ago by the FDA are outdated, so it is now being deregulated.

From Slate • Jan. 14, 2022

Since 1950, the federal government has defined French dressing by a rigid set of standards that it had said would protect consumers from “economic adulteration,” or food fraud, and reflect their expectations about food.

From New York Times • Jan. 13, 2022

She measured out the French dressing in a cup and poured it on the string-bean salad.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck