antipasto
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of antipasto
First recorded in 1580–90; from Italian, equivalent to anti- (from Latin ante- “before”) + pasto “food,” from Latin pāstus “pasturage, feeding ground,” originally “the act of feeding,” equivalent to pās-, stem of pāscere “to feed” + -tus suffix of verbal action; see ante-
Explanation
Antipasto is a kind of appetizer, a small dish you order before your entree. Antipasto is on the menu at many Italian restaurants. In Italy, a traditional meal begins with antipasto, which generally includes cheese, cured meat, and pickled vegetables. In the US, antipasto is thought of as an hors d’oeuvre or an appetizer. The word itself, antipasto, means "before the meal," from the roots anti-, "before," and pasto, "food." The plural of antipasto is antipasti.
Vocabulary lists containing antipasto
World Cuisine - Introductory
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World Cuisine - Middle School and High School
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2015 Spelling Bee - Words from Round 2
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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.
See Examples For:
Being in a government “is not like picking up a menu and deciding, antipasto, no, gelato, yes,” said Emma Bonino, who leads a tiny pro-Europe party.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 14, 2022
They’ve got sandwiches, salads and fun snacks for sharing like antipasto and hummus.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2022
"This sheet-pan dinner is essentially an antipasto platter turned into a hearty, meal-worthy salad, with a few smart tricks up its sleeve," writes recipe developer EmilyC.
From Salon ● Apr. 28, 2022
As we're heading into entertaining during the holiday season, check out Michael's breakdown of the ideal antipasto platter, from picking the perfect cheese to special add-ons.
From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2021
“Thank you,” Alex said, passing the pizza, the antipasto, and the bag of garlic knots to Mr. Dunlap.
From "The Dead and the Gone" by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Serve either spritz—or both, each takes five minutes to make—with olives, an antipasti plate or, if you’d rather order in, a couple of pizzas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
The Italian-American menu offers a wide selection, from handmade pasta to classics like Piccata and Marsala, plus plenty of antipasti, Italian Wedding Soup, and more.
From Salon ● Jan. 13, 2026
It runs far deeper than whether the two sides eat meze or antipasti between hypothetical rounds of fresh talks.
From BBC ● May 20, 2025
The Times surveyed renowned chefs and found that beyond some red-white-and-blue-frosted desserts, and foodstuff arranged to suggest the Olympic rings — fruit, antipasti, onion rings — most weren’t bothering.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2024
Consider adding pepperoncini or drained jarred antipasti salad.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 21, 2023
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.
