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

For the first six months of this year, global sales of Campari Group’s aperitifs, including Aperol and Campari, grew 4%. — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026

Bitter foods have been used for generations to kick digestion into gear, whether that meant a bitter aperitif before a meal or a sharp green tossed on the plate first. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026

Vermouth is a lower-proof aperitif flavored with herbs, roots, spices, citrus and other botanicals, typically landing somewhere between 15% and 22% ABV—considerably gentler than the roughly 40% ABV of many familiar spirits. — Devin Parr, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

The aperitif hails from Italy and was developed by Casa Luigi Sarti & Figli, a historic distillery established in Bologna in 1885. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026

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

1885, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for aperitif

• beef
• brief
• chief
• fief
• grief
• leaf
• lief
• reef
• reif
• seif
• sheaf
• thief