vanilla

American  

[vuh-nil-uh, -nel-uh] / vəˈnɪl ə, -ˈnɛl ə /

noun

1. any tropical, climbing orchid of the genus Vanilla, especially V. planifolia, bearing podlike fruit yielding an extract used in flavoring food, in perfumery, etc.

2. Also called vanilla bean.  the fruit or bean of this orchid.

3. the extract of this fruit.

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adjective

1. containing or flavored with vanilla.

   vanilla custard.

2. Informal. plain vanilla.

vanilla British  

/ vəˈnɪlə /

noun

1. any tropical climbing orchid of the genus Vanilla, esp V. plonifolia, having spikes of large fragrant greenish-yellow flowers and long fleshy pods containing the seeds (beans)

2. the pod or bean of certain of these plants, used to flavour food, etc

3. a flavouring extract prepared from vanilla beans and used in cooking

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adjective

1. flavoured with or as if with vanilla

   vanilla ice cream

2. slang ordinary or conventional

   a vanilla kind of guy

Etymology

Origin of vanilla

1655–65; < New Latin < Spanish vainilla little pod, equivalent to vain ( a ) a sheath (< Latin vāgīna sheath) + -illa diminutive suffix (< LL)

Explanation

Vanilla is the flavor for food — such as ice cream — that contains extract from the vanilla plant. This word also describes things that are boring or plain. If something is called vanilla — such as coffee or a milkshake — it's usually flavored with vanilla extract or the seeds from a vanilla pod. Vanilla is the most common flavor of ice cream. This word has another, slightly insulting, meaning: a vanilla movie is plain and kind of boring. A vanilla song is on the blah side. Maybe it's because vanilla food tends to be white and plain that we use this word for other things that are bland.

Example Sentences

Edmond Albius devised the hand-pollination technique that made vanilla cultivation commercially viable; he died in poverty after emancipation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

This year's offerings include the "Best in Show," the "Golden Cut Margarita," the "Maestro Martini" and "The Sequel," made with gold vanilla edible paint streaked along the side.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

For reference, a 2-ounce bottle of Great Value vanilla is about $6; this stuff comes in at $10.99 for two ounces.

From Salon • Mar. 5, 2026

Despite the heavy breathing, Heathcliff and Catherine’s chemistry is pretty vanilla.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

A nurse stood beside him, holding a tray containing a cup of clear broth, a bowl of red Jell-O, and some vanilla yogurt.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret