champagne
noun
the sparkling, dry, white table wine from the region of Champagne in France.
champagne
1 American
[sham-payn]
/ ʃæmˈpeɪn /
noun
-
champagnes
plural
-
(initial capital letter) the sparkling, dry, white table wine from the region of Champagne in France.
-
a similar sparkling wine produced elsewhere.
-
(formerly) the nonsparkling, dry, white table wine produced in the region of Champagne in France.
-
a very pale yellow or greenish-yellow color.
-
anything considered the best or luxurious.
adjective
-
having the color of champagne.
-
luxurious or expensive.
champagne tastes.
Champagne
2
American
[sham-payn, shahn -pan-yuh]
/ ʃæmˈpeɪn, ʃɑ̃ˈpan jə /
noun
champagne
British
/ ʃæmˈpeɪn /
noun
-
(sometimes capital) a white sparkling wine produced around Reims and Epernay, France
-
(loosely) any effervescent white wine
-
-
a colour varying from a pale orange-yellow to a greyish-yellow
-
( as adjective )
a champagne carpet
-
-
(modifier) denoting a luxurious lifestyle
a champagne capitalist
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of champagne
First recorded in 1655–65; after Champagne
Explanation
Champagne is a bubbly white wine that people often drink to celebrate happy occasions. When you pull the cork out of a bottle of champagne, it makes a loud pop. Traditionally, the sparkling wine known as champagne came from a specific region of France and was made from certain grapes grown there. Some people now call any sparkling wine champagne, but most champagnes are made following certain rules and traditions. A champagne glass is called a flute, and it's tall and narrow with a long stem. The word champagne is short for vin de Champagne, "wine made in Champagne."
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:
At the wedding reception, he stood up with a champagne glass and called it “the best wedding present” a father ever got to give, and said we knew we would use it wisely.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
There was supposed to be more champagne, a trophy to raise, and the first World Series three-peat by a National League team to jot down in the history books.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
In 2022, she launched what she termed an upscale vodka and champagne brand, American Dream, organizing a dinner for Mar-a-Lago guests that participants realized halfway through was an investment pitch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
There, he entertained the great and the good with legendary parties, serving with champagne and shepherd's pies.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Eventually, with the aid of several glasses of champagne, Tsukiko persuades her to abandon the effort, drawing her out into the sunken garden to distract her.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
The current area in which Champagne can be produced dates from 1927.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
Champagne, Cava or Crémant are all excellent choices, their bright acidity making them particularly agreeable partners for creamy chowders and hearty stews.
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026
Musk could buy all of Moet & Chandon’s Champagne production for the next 666 years or so.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
And if you sniff the lobby of downtown Los Angeles’ Ritz-Carlton, you may detect “bright effervescent notes ... layered with soft florals,” a custom fragrance known as Champagne & Shimmer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
"You are really Jean de Joinville? Companion of the king? Seneschal of Champagne?"
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
"If they do, I have no choice but to charge a 100 percent tariff on all champagnes and all wines coming out of France," he was quoted as saying.
From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026
Italian winery owner Riccardo Pasqua says it was enjoying the very best non-vintage champagnes that inspired him to make Italy's first multi-year still white wine.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2025
According to The American Menu archives, a 1903 Café Martin menu advertised 69 champagnes; it was aggressively promoted at late-night suppers and celebrations.
From Salon ● Dec. 31, 2022
Cristal's 2012 and 2013 champagnes were the most-traded bottles of the year overall, LiveTrade said, followed by leading fine wine, the 6,450-a-bottle Lafite Rothschild 2014.
From Reuters ● Dec. 24, 2021
Hocks and champagnes appear in their native bottles.
From Routledge's Manual of Etiquette by George Routledge
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