caviar

noun

cav·​i·​ar ˈka-vē-ˌär 

 also  ˈkä-

variants or less commonly caviare

1

: processed salted roe of large fish (such as sturgeon)

2

: something considered too delicate or lofty for mass appreciation

—usually used in the phrase caviar to the general

3

: something considered the best of its kind

Did you know?

The eggs, or roe, of sturgeon are called caviar. Preserved with salt, caviar is usually eaten as an appetizer. Most true caviar is produced in Russia and Iran, from fish taken from the Caspian and Black seas. The best grade, beluga, is prepared from large black or gray eggs; fresh beluga caviar is relatively scarce and thus expensive. Lesser grades are from smaller, denser eggs. In the U.S., the roe of salmon, whitefish, lumpfish, and paddlefish is sometimes sold under the name caviar.

Examples of caviar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Such as buying champagne and caviar for everyone in the country every day. —Vipin Bharathan, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025

The dish was a two-part affair: on one side was a ceramic bowl filled with exceedingly fresh yellowtail, topped with a ginger sabayon and a generous quenelle of caviar. —Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025

The dining section includes Le Petit RH, an upscale restaurant envisaged as a jewel box, featuring a menu of caviar specialties, small plates, signature salads and seafood towers. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025

The music producer celebrated his bachelor party with friends at Resorts World in Las Vegas, posting images on his Instagram Stories of fancy dinners out with the Vegas skyline in the back, along with lounging at a spa, eating caviar. —Marina Watts, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

earlier cavery, caviarie, from obsolete Italian caviari, plural of caviaro, from Turkish havyar

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for caviar

• abattoir
• alcazar
• autocar
• avatar
• belshazzar
• caviare
• cinnabar
• commissar
• condylar
• deodar
• handlebar
• isobar

Kids Definition

caviar

noun

cav·​i·​ar

variants also caviare

ˈkav-ē-ˌär 

 also  ˈkäv-

: the salted eggs of a large fish (as the sturgeon) usually served as an appetizer