vinegar

American  

[vin-i-ger] / ˈvɪn ɪ gər /

noun

1. a sour liquid consisting of dilute and impure acetic acid, obtained by acetous fermentation from wine, cider, beer, ale, or the like: used as a condiment, preservative, etc.

2. Pharmacology. a solution of a medicinal substance in dilute acetic acid, or vinegar.

3. sour or irritable speech, manner, or countenance.

   a note of vinegar in his voice.

4. Informal. vigor; high spirits; vim.

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vinegar British  

/ ˈvɪnɪɡə /

noun

1. a sour-tasting liquid consisting of impure dilute acetic acid, made by oxidation of the ethyl alcohol in beer, wine, or cider. It is used as a condiment or preservative

2. sourness or peevishness of temper, countenance, speech, etc

3. pharmacol a medicinal solution in dilute acetic acid

4. informal vitality

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verb

1. (tr) to apply vinegar to

Other Word Forms

• vinegar-like
  adjective
• vinegarish
  adjective
• vinegarlike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of vinegar

1250–1300; Middle English vinegre < Old French, equivalent to vin wine + egre, aigre sour ( see eager)

Explanation

Vinegar is a liquid that's commonly used in cooking for its tart, acidic flavor. You're probably familiar with the taste of vinegar from things like salad dressing and pickles. While you might not want to drink a glass of vinegar, it's a useful ingredient in many recipes, both for its flavor, which varies depending on how it's made, and its tenderizing properties. Vinegar can also be used for cleaning, freshening laundry, killing pests, and taking the sting off a bite from a jellyfish or wasp, among many other uses. Vinegar means "sour wine," and that's exactly what it is— juice that's fermented way beyond wine.

Example Sentences

It’s billed as different from “your average rib sandwich,” with ribs that have been hand-deboned, marinated in a proprietary barbecue-sauce blend with apple-cider vinegar, then slow-cooked for nine hours.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

Dubowski said he had experienced a "strange bit of self-doubt" earlier after he was asked what was mixed with vinegar, mustard and oil to make a basic mayonnaise.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

Quick pickled cucumbers, dressed with rice vinegar, sugar and sesame oil, bring texture and acidity while a classic Mexican mix of minced onion and cilantro finishes things off.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

A splash of white wine or rice vinegar sharpens the whole skillet, lifting the richness without thinning it.

From Salon • Feb. 24, 2026

Elnora brought me a tonic of wild thyme and vinegar to ease my lethargy.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Related Words

• marinade