vinaigrette

American  

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

Also vinegarette

noun

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

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

Big bowls of iceberg lettuce dressed in Italian vinaigrette.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

It’s a defense of winter salads and includes several recipes, like one for a celery and radish salad with fig vinaigrette and another for a citrus salad with green olives, burrata and honey-roasted pistachios.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026

Maybe torn bagel croutons, smoked salmon ribbons, pickled red onion, caper vinaigrette, goat cheese crumbles and juicy summer tomatoes.

From Salon • May 19, 2025

They can be incorporated into pesto, using a combination of basil or other greens and a fatty cheese, or as an aromatic in a vinaigrette.

From Salon • May 14, 2025

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

From "George" by Alex Gino