mayonnaise

American  

[mey-uh-neyz, mey-uh-neyz] / ˌmeɪ əˈneɪz, ˈmeɪ əˌneɪz /

noun

1. a thick dressing of egg yolks, vinegar or lemon juice, oil, and seasonings, used for salads, sandwiches, vegetable dishes, etc.

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mayonnaise British  

/ ˌmeɪəˈneɪz /

noun

1. a thick creamy sauce made from egg yolks, oil, and vinegar or lemon juice, eaten with salads, eggs, etc

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Etymology

Origin of mayonnaise

1835–45; < French, equivalent to mayon (perhaps variant of Mahón, town in Minorca) + -aise -ese

Compare meaning

How does mayonnaise compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• aioli vs. mayonnaise

Example Sentences

McCormick is putting up $29.1 billion in stock and $15.7 billion in cash, and will own 35% of the combined company that includes Unilever’s signature food brands such as Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Knorr soup mixes.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

The pair, who live in a cramped studio apartment in a crumbling colonial-era building, can’t afford butter or mayonnaise, so breakfast is a piece of plain bread.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026

Reindeer tartare with red cabbage and fermented garlic mayonnaise.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

She continued to grow her mayonnaise brand, Ayoh, which has expanded to grocery stores nationwide; and to develop recipes for her subscription-based blog, the Club.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

Sweet Man came in crying, and Ginnie Sue picked him up and let him suck some mayonnaise off her finger.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls