hors d'oeuvre

American  

[awr durv, awr dœ-vr^uh] / ɔr ˈdɜrv, ɔr ˈdœ vrə /

noun

plural

hors d'oeuvre, hors d'oeuvres

1. a small bit of appetizing food, as spicy meat, fish, cheese, or a preparation of chopped or creamed foods, often served on crackers or small pieces of toast, for eating at cocktail parties or other gatherings where drinks are served with no other food.

2. an appetizer, as a relish or more elaborate preparation, served before or as the first course of a meal.

---

hors d'oeuvre British  

/ ɔr dœvrə, ɔː ˈdɜːvr /

noun

1. an additional dish served as an appetizer, usually before the main meal

---

Etymology

Origin of hors d'oeuvre

1705–15; < French: outside of the main course

Example Sentences

Shortly after opening Houseman, Baldwin was thinking about putting oeuf mayonnaise — a classic hors d'oeuvre featuring hard-boiled eggs topped with seasoned mayonnaise — as a dish on the menu.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2025

While these are elegant enough for a party hors d’oeuvre or nibble for a champagne brunch, I like the extra flair when there’s no special occasion other than sitting down to a family meal.

From Washington Post • Mar. 29, 2023

For the Oscars this year, I wanted to do a classic hors d’oeuvre: puff pastry flavored with fig jam and caramelized onions.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 7, 2023

Brentford and Swansea, two teams who play the game the ‘right’ way will serve as an hors d’oeuvre for the evening’s events in Porto when they play in the EFL Championship play-off final.

From The Guardian • May 28, 2021

On New Year’s Eve, as a matter of tradition, she’d buy a special hors d’oeuvre basket, the kind that came filled with blocks of cheese, smoked oysters in a tin, and different kinds of salami.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• starter