aperitif

noun

aper·​i·​tif ə-ˌper-ə-ˈtēf 

a-;

ˌä-pər-(ə-)ˈtēf

: an alcoholic drink taken before a meal as an appetizer

Examples of aperitif in a Sentence

They served us champagne as an aperitif.

Recent Examples on the Web

The new food destination is open from breakfast through lunch, including aperitif hours and afternoon tea. —Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2025

The restaurant is open from breakfast to dinner, including aperitif and brunch. —Andrea Onate, WWD, 25 Feb. 2025

The main cable car remains open after dark, allowing skiers and snowboarders to have dinner or an aperitif on the mountain before returning to down on the gondola that is open until midnight. —Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025

Beverages To enhance the singular dining experience even more, guests can savor a unique aperitif that embodies the dynamic spirit of Hong Kong. —Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French apéritif, from apéritif, adjective, "aperient, stimulating appetite," going back to Old French aperitif "aperient," borrowed from Medieval Latin aperitīvus, variant of Late Latin apertīvus, from Latin apertus, past participle of aperīre "to open" + -īvus -ive — more at aperient

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for aperitif

• beef
• brief
• chief
• fief
• grief
• leaf
• lief
• reef
• reif
• seif
• sheaf
• thief