vinaigrette

noun

vin·​ai·​grette ˌvi-ni-ˈgret 

1

: a sauce made typically of oil, vinegar, and seasonings and used especially on salads, cold meats, or fish

called also vinaigrette dressing

2

: a small ornamental box or bottle with perforated top used for holding an aromatic preparation (such as smelling salts)

Examples of vinaigrette in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pool half the vinaigrette in the middle of a serving platter or divide evenly among individual salad plates. —Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 5 June 2025

Pour 1/4 cup of the vinaigrette over the berries and fennel. —Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2025

Salad Verte At Cathedrale in New York City, this salad from Chef Jason Hall is made with baby lettuce, red radish, petite pois, Persian cucumbers, and a homemade sherry vinaigrette. —Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025

Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking constantly, until the vinaigrette is smooth and fully combined. —Ashia Aubourg, Outside Online, 24 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from vinaigre vinegar

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for vinaigrette

• alphabet
• arpanet
• bayonet
• biuret
• cigarette
• clarinet
• coronet
• coverlet
• dataset
• epithet
• ethernet
• heavyset

Kids Definition

vinaigrette

noun

vin·​ai·​grette ˌvin-i-ˈgret 

: a sauce made of oil, vinegar, and seasonings and used especially on salads, cold meats, or fish