mignonette

noun

mi·​gnon·​ette ˌmin-yə-ˈnet 

1

: any of a genus (Reseda of the family Resedaceae, the mignonette family) of herbs

especially : a garden annual (R. odorata) bearing racemes of fragrant whitish flowers

2

: a sauce made typically with vinegar, pepper, and herbs and served especially with oysters

Illustration of mignonette

• mignonette 1

Examples of mignonette in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This platter will feature a half-dozen oysters sourced from Hog Island’s Marin County farm in Marshall, and served with Hogwash mignonette, lemon and hot sauce. —Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026

Appetizers include of oysters mignonette, shrimp cocktail and steak tartare. —Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 5 Feb. 2026

Two popular appetizers are truffle and prosciutto deviled eggs and oysters with cucumber mignonette, Britton said. —Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026

For seafood with Mediterranean flair, head indoors at Maykana to Gaia for an eco-friendly feast with stunning views—try the local catch of the day with your choice of flavorful sauce, such as a hibiscus mignonette or leche de tigre. —AFAR Media, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French mignonnette, from obsolete French, feminine of mignonnet dainty, from Middle French, from mignon darling

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined at sense 1