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
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.
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
The five-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom property also features a gourmet kitchen as well as an additional guesthouse that is described as being the ideal spot for a home office or “state-of-the-art fitness studio.”
From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026
But for months, she followed a fresh diet, lapping up gourmet meals and freeze-dried raw treats from a variety of reputable brands.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026
Harry & David Deluxe Fresh Fruit Basket – Sometimes fruit makes the best gift, and Harry & David is known for their gourmet fruit gifts.
From Salon • Dec. 4, 2025
“Ain’t that sweet,” Mrs. Reilly said of the gourmet grandchildren.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
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.
