canapé

noun

can·​a·​pé ˈka-nə-pē How to pronounce canapé (audio)
-ˌpā
: an appetizer consisting of a piece of bread or toast or a cracker topped with a savory spread (such as caviar or cheese) compare hors d'oeuvre

Examples of canapé in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web An event at the Avant family home wasn’t a stodgy affair with canapes, friends recalled. Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2023 Choose a few refreshing items to serve as palate cleansers throughout the evening — nibbles that guests can reach for in between the stronger canapes, such as Marcona almonds, unflavored crackers, mild cheeses, olives, and apple or pear slices. Kambry Ruby, Dallas News, 13 Aug. 2023 June 2 is a preview night party from 4-7 p.m. with wine, beer, cocktails and canapes. Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 25 May 2023 On a recent afternoon, the green velvet banquette hosts a younger crowd for asparagus canapes, coronation chicken salad, vanilla macarons, chocolate bombes, and the requisite scones. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 10 May 2023 Advertisement This reproduced, in microcosm and with bad canapes, the show’s meta-critique of Hollywood as just a bigger fun factory where the final product sucks and everyone (except for Steve Guttenberg) is unhappy and unfulfilled. Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023 As with much of the ball’s menu, the fish and chips will be served in purposefully smaller portions, almost as a canape, so people can walk around while noshing. Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 8 Mar. 2023 Stone weighed in for the appetizer and a surprise canape course, while Cimarusti judged the entrée and dessert dishes. Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Sep. 2021 Stone Bank Farm is offering a farm-fresh, three-course take-home dinner for two, with heating and plating instructions, a canape and chocolate mousse dessert. Elaine Rewolinski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'canapé.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, sofa, from Medieval Latin canopeum, canapeum mosquito net — more at canopy

First Known Use

circa 1750, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of canapé was circa 1750

Dictionary Entries Near canapé

Cite this Entry

“Canapé.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canap%C3%A9. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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