mayonnaise
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of mayonnaise
1835–45; < French, equivalent to mayon (perhaps variant of Mahón, town in Minorca) + -aise -ese
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How does mayonnaise compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Mayonnaise is the creamy white condiment you use to make tuna salad or spread on your BLT sandwich. Most mayonnaise is made from egg yolks, oil, and lemon juice. Mayonnaise is common in many foods around the world, from fancy French sauces like rémoulade to Japanese okonomiyaki. In the Netherlands and Belgium, French fries are served with mayonnaise instead of the standard American condiment, ketchup. In the U.S., mayonnaise was first sold commercially in Philadelphia in 1907, made by a local woman named Amelia Schlorer. If you've got a whisk, eggs and olive oil, and a strong arm, you can even make your own mayonnaise.
Vocabulary lists containing mayonnaise
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 practice of ranching can be traced back about 75 years to the man who had a brilliant idea to combine mayonnaise, buttermilk, herbs and spices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
The quick-pickled herbs are blended with Greek yogurt, good mayonnaise, olive oil, lemon juice and, because we’re fully committing to the bit, an actual dill pickle or two.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
The unnamed condiment originally mixed herbs and spices with buttermilk and mayonnaise and its popularity with guests led to it being jarred so they could take some home.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
The inaugural flights will feature a special Venezuelan menu including corn pancakes known as cachapas and a Venezuelan-style chicken salad with mayonnaise, according to the airline.
From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026
“Usual sports stuff. Someone put mayonnaise in my helmet and spray starch in my jockstrap. That kind of thing.”
From "Time Bomb" by Joelle Charbonneau
Hellmann’s mayonnaise, which celebrated its 100 birthday this year, is a pioneer among mayonnaises, a creamy, tangy conqueror of bellies, hearts, and nations.
From Slate ● Dec. 26, 2013
To this end he would whip up weird mayonnaises of wax, turps, asphaltum, eggs, resin and oil.
From Time Magazine Archive
The Luncheon Menu generally comprises soup, entrées both hot and cold; chickens, game, mayonnaises, salads, jellies, creams, etc., etc., and other dishes of a like character.
From Manners and Rules of Good Society or Solecisms to be Avoided by Anonymous
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.
