vanilla

1 of 2

noun

va·​nil·​la və-ˈni-lə  -ˈne- 

1

a

: vanilla bean

b

: a commercially important extract of the vanilla bean that is used especially as a flavoring

2

: any of a genus (Vanilla) of tropical American climbing epiphytic orchids

vanilla

2 of 2

adjective

1

: flavored with vanilla

2

: lacking distinction : plain, ordinary, conventional

Did you know?

How did vanilla get such a bad rap? The flavor with that name certainly has enough fans, with the bean of the Vanilla genus of orchids finding its way into products ranging from ice cream to coffee to perfumes to air fresheners. Vanilla's unfortunate reputation arose due to its being regarded as the "basic" flavor among ice-cream selections, particularly as more complex flavors emerged on the market. (Its somewhat beigey color probably didn't help.) From there, people began using the adjective to describe anything plain, ordinary, or conventional.

Synonyms

Adjective

• beige
• characterless
• faceless
• featureless
• indistinctive
• neutral
• noncommittal
• nondescript

Examples of vanilla in a Sentence

Noun

The frosting is flavored with vanilla.

Adjective

The décor is pretty vanilla.

a plain vanilla version of a song that's been recorded more times than necessary

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Corail Oscuro uses a traceable, biodegradable and renewable technique to harvest the mandarin, for example, and the vanilla in Lilyphéa is traceable, as well. —James Manso, WWD, 3 Sep. 2024

The more vanilla kind is a fair weather waterspout, which forms in relatively calm and even sunny conditions, often under a billowy cumulus cloud. —Alec Luhn, WIRED, 21 Aug. 2024

While only slightly detectable, vanilla extract provides a warm sweetness while elevating the flavor of the chocolate. —Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 15 Aug. 2024

With notes of whiskey, vanilla, labdanum, and oakwood, this cologne is warm, woody, and spicy—perfect for the fall evenings ahead. —Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from New Latin, borrowed from Spanish vainilla "the vanilla plant and fruit," diminutive of vaina "sheath, pod," going back to Latin vāgīna "scabbard, sheath"; replacing earlier vaynilla, borrowed from Spanish

First Known Use

Noun

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vanilla

• plain-vanilla
• vanilla bean

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Kids Definition

vanilla

noun

va·​nil·​la

və-ˈnil-ə,

-ˈnel-

: a flavoring made from the long pods of a tropical American climbing orchid

also : this orchid or one of the same genus

Medical Definition

vanilla

noun

va·​nil·​la və-ˈnil-ə  -ˈnel- 

1

a

: vanilla bean

b

: a commercially important extract of the vanilla bean that is prepared by soaking comminuted vanilla beans in water and ethyl alcohol and that is used especially as a flavoring (as in pharmaceutical preparations)

2

: any of a genus (Vanilla) of tropical American climbing orchids