zest

noun

ˈzest 

1

: a piece of the peel of a citrus fruit (such as an orange or lemon) used as flavoring

2

: an enjoyably exciting quality : piquancy

adds zest to the performance

3

: keen enjoyment : relish, gusto

has a zest for living

zestful

ˈzest-fəl 

adjective

zestfully

ˈzest-fə-lē 

adverb

zestfulness noun

zestless

ˈzest-ləs 

adjective

Did you know?

Zest and Cooking

Zest can spice up your life—fitting for a word that English acquired from the world of cooking. Zest comes from French zeste, the name for orange or lemon peel used to flavor food or drinks. English speakers adopted the French meaning and developed an additional one referring to any quality that adds enjoyment to something in the same way that the zest of an orange or lemon adds flavor to food.

Synonyms

• nip
• piquancy
• pungency
• spice
• tang
• zing

Examples of zest in a Sentence

His humor added zest to the performance.

His humor added a certain zest to the performance.

The recipe calls for a tablespoon of lemon zest.

Recent Examples on the Web

Get The Recipe While lemon is not the shining star in this recipe, the little bit of zest is an essential part of the flavor and freshness. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2024

Potes drizzles brown butter over hamachi crudo swimming in yuzu ponzu and lime zest. —Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2024

In food, a squeeze of lemon or a sprinkle of orange zest can enhance a dish's flavor profile, but among the best citrus perfumes, all of that juicy, tangy tartness sits front and center. —Lori Keong, Allure, 22 July 2024

Stir in broth, remaining ½ teaspoon lemon zest and lemon juice and bring to boil. —Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 17 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

obsolete French (now zeste), orange or lemon peel (used as flavoring)

First Known Use

circa 1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing zest

• zest for life

Kids Definition

zest

noun

ˈzest 

1

: a piece of the peel of a citrus fruit (as an orange or lemon) used as a flavoring

2

: a quality that increases enjoyment

added zest to the performance

3

: keen enjoyment : relish

has a zest for life

zestful

-fəl 

adjective

zestfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

zestfulness noun

zesty

ˈzes-tē

adjective

Etymology

from obsolete French zest (now zeste) "orange or lemon peel used for flavoring"

Word Origin

Zest was borrowed into English in the 17th century from the French zest (now spelled zeste), meaning "an orange or lemon peel." Where the French got the word we do not know. The peels of oranges and lemons are sometimes used to add flavor to food and drinks. The earliest uses of zest in English refer to the peel of such fruit used in this way. By the early 18th century, however, zest had developed another meaning. It was used to refer to a quality that adds enjoyment to something, in the same way that the zest of an orange or lemon adds flavor to food.