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

"We rehearsed at the local church and started gigging. We used to do a pretty wild version of Bob Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone and Vanilla Fudge You Keep Me Hanging On," said Chris.

From BBC • Aug. 11, 2025

The original Vanilla Ice song steals a beat from the Queen-David Bowie song “Under Pressure.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 2024

Vanilla extract is one of the most widely used flavoring compounds in food products and cosmetics.

From Science Daily • May 16, 2024

But some artificial flavors are easier to make than others: Vanilla flavoring, she says, gets its characteristic flavor from a single compound, vanillin.

From Salon • May 8, 2024

“From the vending machine downstairs. It’s a little melty, and not Madagascar Vanilla Bean, but it’s the best I could do in a hurry.”

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper