mayonnaise

American  

[may-uh-nayz, may-uh-nayz] / ˌmeɪ əˈneɪz, ˈmeɪ əˌneɪz /

noun

• mayonnaises
  plural

1. a thick dressing of egg yolks, vinegar or lemon juice, oil, and seasonings, used for salads, sandwiches, vegetable dishes, etc.

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mayonnaise British  

/ ˌmeɪəˈneɪz /

noun

1. a thick creamy sauce made from egg yolks, oil, and vinegar or lemon juice, eaten with salads, eggs, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• mayonnaises
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of mayonnaise

1835–45; < French, equivalent to mayon (perhaps variant of Mahón, town in Minorca) + -aise -ese

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Compare meaning

How does mayonnaise compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• aioli vs. mayonnaise

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mayonnaise mayonnaises

It appeared as cooking oil, frying fat, shortening, salad dressing, mayonnaise and an inconspicuous ingredient in packaged foods.

From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026

To overhaul its signature Whopper, Burger King added a more premium bun, new mayonnaise, a box to preserve freshness—and a corporate chef who had already worked magic at chicken chain Popeyes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

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

Rice noodles are tossed in a glossy dressing of tomato paste, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, Sriracha, rice wine vinegar and just enough Kewpie mayonnaise to give everything a silky sheen.

From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026

I open the door to the fridge: milk, butter, mayonnaise, bread, eggs, hot dogs.

From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson

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

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