vinaigrette

American  

[vin-uh-gret, vin-i-guh-ret] / ˌvɪn əˈgrɛt, vɪn ɪ gəˈrɛt /

Also vinegarette

noun

• vinaigrettes
  plural

1. a small, ornamental bottle or box for holding aromatic vinegar, smelling salts, or the like.

2. vinaigrette sauce.

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adjective

1. (of a food, as asparagus or artichoke) served with a sauce made with vinegar or with vinaigrette sauce.

vinaigrette British  

/ ˌvɪneɪˈɡrɛt /

noun

1. Also called: vinegarette. a small decorative bottle or box with a perforated top, used for holding smelling salts, etc

2. Also called: vinaigrette sauce. a salad dressing made from oil and vinegar with seasonings; French dressing

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adjective

1. served with vinaigrette

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• vinaigrettes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of vinaigrette

First recorded in 1690–1700; from French, equivalent to vinaigre ( see vinegar) + -ette diminutive suffix ( see -ette)

Explanation

Vinaigrette is an oil-based salad dressing or marinade. When a restaurant server asks what kind of dressing you'd like on your salad, vinaigrette is usually one of the options. A basic vinaigrette is made from some kind of oil (often olive oil) whisked with an acidic ingredient, usually vinegar. The word comes from the French, a variation on vinaigre, or "aromatic vinegar." You can also make a vinaigrette using lemon juice. For some people, a more familiar name is "Italian salad dressing."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vinaigrette vinaigrettes

And by the end of my night, strangers were socializing, showing off their painted cookie creations, sharing Banksy tidbits and asking for recommendations on various vinaigrette combinations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

The funk and sunshine of preserved lemon stirred into a vinaigrette.

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026

The liquid from a jar of pepperoncini can become the backbone of a vinaigrette.

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026

Even a simple vinaigrette could become something a little more luxe, fully emulsified.

From Salon ● Mar. 25, 2026

Mom returned with a green salad, topped with raw vegetables and vinaigrette dressing.

From "George" by Alex Gino

Guests are encouraged to mix and match the vinaigrettes into a mess of hues, a nod to abstractionist Jackson Pollock.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

Salads, lightness, fresh vinaigrettes, citrus, honey — it all makes me want to pack a picnic.

From Salon ● May 10, 2025

For most vinaigrettes, I lean toward extra virgin olive oil, first press or cold press if possible.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 21, 2023

And beyond food, Adler finds that empty vinegar and dressing bottles are natural vessels to make and store vinaigrettes, too.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 13, 2023

The room's wonders had unfolded to us for hours: perfume atomizers and color crème-cakes and rouge-sticks and powders and kohl pencils and golden vinaigrettes and pastilles and potpourri and oils and sachets.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton