vinaigrette
Americannoun
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a small, ornamental bottle or box for holding aromatic vinegar, smelling salts, or the like.
adjective
noun
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Also called: vinegarette. a small decorative bottle or box with a perforated top, used for holding smelling salts, etc
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Also called: vinaigrette sauce. a salad dressing made from oil and vinegar with seasonings; French dressing
adjective
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."
Vocabulary lists containing vinaigrette
The Melting Pot: Food Words from Other Languages
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Power Suffix: -ette
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English Words Derived from French, List 10
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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.
Even a simple vinaigrette could become something a little more luxe, fully emulsified.
From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026
Once roasted, the fruit can live in deli tubs for the week, but it’s also charming atop yogurt or ice cream, or stirred into a vinaigrette for a quietly sweet note.
From Salon • Dec. 20, 2025
As for dressing, the kit includes an apple vinaigrette that’s made from apple cider vinegar, concentrated apple juice, Dijon mustard and a medley of spices.
From Salon • Nov. 26, 2025
Blend everything — make it a sauce, a vinaigrette, a green juice, a soup, whatever.
From Salon • May 23, 2025
Mom returned with a green salad, topped with raw vegetables and vinaigrette dressing.
From "George" by Alex Gino
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
