Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

hors d'oeuvres

  • plural
    of hors d'oeuvre.
    hors d'oeuvre
    noun
    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.

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:

The forlorn hors d’oeuvres and plastic cups of wine shortly after deadline under the conference room’s fluorescent lights kept things safely subdued.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 17, 2025

All of the recipes in the chapters that follow are built on those mother infusions and are organized by type: beverages, hors d’oeuvres, sauces and dips, drinks, snacks and the like.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2025

Guests snacked on canapés and hors d’oeuvres before proceeding upstairs for the main course.

From Slate ● Mar. 3, 2025

"Hors d'oeuvres were meant to be available to all guests. And the leftovers from the dinner were the promised hors d'oeuvres."

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2024

Tuxedoed waiters passed around hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

More Suggestions