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

Begin with an aperitif and small bites in the impressive bar area, with the likes of a maitake mushroom and ricotta tartlet. —Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025

Founded by Lily Geiger, who lost her father to alcoholism, Sole looks like an aperitif but avoids mimicking the taste of alcohol. —Air Mail, 17 May 2025

Campari is an Italian aperitif that originated in Italy in the 1800s. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025

Aside from lending its name to one of France’s most famous aperitifs, Cap Corse is distinguished by its rugged landscapes, traditional villages, and defiantly Corsican culture. —Eleanor Aldridge, AFAR Media, 28 Apr. 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