martini

¹ American  

[mahr-tee-nee] / mɑrˈti ni /

noun

plural

martinis

1. a cocktail made with gin or vodka and dry vermouth, usually served with a green olive or a twist of lemon peel.

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Martini ² American  

[mahr-tee-nee, mahr-tee-nee] / mɑrˈti ni, mɑrˈti ni /

noun

1. Simone 1283–1344, Italian painter.

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Martini ¹ British  

/ mɑːˈtiːnɪ /

noun

1. an Italian vermouth

2. a cocktail of gin and vermouth

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Martini ² British  

/ marˈtiːni /

noun

1. Simone (siˈmoːne). ?1284–1344, Sienese painter

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Etymology

Origin of martini

First recorded in 1885–90; perhaps alteration of Martinez (an earlier alternate name of the drink, of disputed origin), by back formation (taking it as plural), or by association with the vermouth manufacturer Martini, Sola & Co. (later Martini & Rossi)

Example Sentences

His take on an espresso martini involves liquid nitrogen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

But the top of my crack, well, it swerves like it’s a freehand drawing done after a third martini.

From Slate • Feb. 22, 2026

At the tropical Siren Social Club, I splurged on a gin martini, an appetizer of garlicky Gulf shrimp and pastry-encrusted beef Wellington.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026

First of all, it’s an incredible martini, but they do a whole presentation.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 16, 2026

He puts a hand on my elbow, and then turns to the bar, and all of a sudden I’m holding an honest-to-God martini glass full of something green.

From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli