gourmet
Americannoun
adjective
-
of or characteristic of a gourmet, especially in involving or purporting to involve high-quality or exotic ingredients and skilled preparation.
gourmet meals; gourmet cooking.
-
elaborately equipped for the preparation of fancy, specialized, or exotic meals.
a gourmet kitchen.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of gourmet
1810–20; < French; Old French gromet, grommes valet (especially of a wine merchant)
Explanation
That guy over there correctly identifying the dozen spices used in the meal he's eating? He’s likely a gourmet, someone who knows a lot about fine food. There are gourmets and then there are foodies. Both are food enthusiasts who live to eat. A gourmet, pronounced like the French word that is its double: "gor-MAY," is more likely to go for the most refined dining experience, created by a chef who trained in Europe. A foodie, on the other hand, might take you to the best burrito place — because their guacamole tastes the best — then stop by the farmers' market to see if the first of the asparagus crop has arrived.
Vocabulary lists containing gourmet
100 SAT Words Beginning with "G"
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Mardi Gras: Food
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English Words Derived from French, List 7
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In May 2017 he spent £84.95 on five packs of gourmet beans and £123.91 on five packs of roasted beans.
From BBC • May 25, 2026
The five-bedroom mansion with soaring ceilings and a gourmet kitchen features a rockin’ lower level that includes a wine cellar, gym, massage room, creative work area, kitchen, vocal booth, den, and guest suite.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
The Seia Club, an invitation-only private club on the 55th floor of a high-end office building in the Brickell financial district, opened in March, featuring gourmet cuisine and a curated art collection.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
Inside, they found lavish surroundings, wedding-banquet style spreads of biryani, kebabs and gulab jamun, along with gourmet coffee blended from Brazilian and Ethiopian beans.
From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026
When I had visitors, which was increasingly often, he would prepare gourmet meals.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
