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

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

Because the entire league was making its way to New York for three other knockout scouting games over the weekend, and this was the aperitif. —John Hollinger, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025

There’s no escaping it: over the last decade, Aperol has risen to heights of popularity that even the aperitif’s home country is shocked by … BUT, WAIT, THERE’S MORE! —airmail.news, 15 Feb. 2025

Ideal as an aperitif, start off your special mom time with this sparkler in your glass. —Emily Cappiello, Forbes.com, 15 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