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

Who’s to blame? February 15, 2025 Reading Time: 4 minutes For travelers to Europe, the rainbow of aperitifs in Mediterranean bars and restaurants has long been a fascination. —Simon Mills, airmail.news, 15 Feb. 2025

The marketing promises a fizzy and flirty seasonal aperitif that the filmmaker can only partly deliver. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Dec. 2024

Set to be released later this month, the new expression promises to serve as a refreshing aperitif that claims its place at the table, from brunch to dinner or dessert. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 14 Oct. 2024

Enjoy a day at the beach (accessed directly from the property) followed by an afternoon aperitif on the picture-perfect terrace presiding over the sea. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 28 Jan. 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