Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

pétillant

American  
[pey-tee-yahn] / peɪ tiˈjɑ̃ /

adjective

French.
  1. slightly sparkling.


pétillant British  
/ petijɑ̃ /

adjective

  1. (of wine) slightly effervescent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of pétillant

French, from pétiller to effervesce

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:

When someone asked about “pét nat” wines—short for pétillant naturel, a trendy sparkling variety—one young techie pulled faces that would trigger expulsion from a Swiss lyceum.

From The Wall Street Journal May 18, 2026

Sparkling wines are also a great option, whether Champagne, cava or pétillant naturel.

From New York Times Mar. 4, 2022

That's is the abbreviated term for "pétillant naturel" — a French term that essentially means a naturally sparkling wine.

From Salon Jan. 23, 2022

Wine director Janet Beeby curates an eclectic global selection that includes pétillant naturel and orange wines.

From Seattle Times Aug. 3, 2021

Bluette rose from the depths of her amber satin fauteuil, with her little pétillant eyes laughing, and her small plump hands stretched out in gesticulation.

From Beatrice Boville and Other Stories by Ouida

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training