palate

noun

pal·​ate ˈpa-lət 

1

: the roof of the mouth separating the mouth from the nasal cavity see hard palate, soft palate

2

a

: a usually intellectual taste or liking

too ornate for my palate

… I heard a little too much preaching … and lost my palate for it.

—George Eliot

b

: the sense of taste

serves Korean food adapted for the American palate

Examples of palate in a Sentence

The restaurant serves Korean food adapted for the American palate.

She's been working hard on a menu that will please the palates of all her guests.

Recent Examples on the Web

Rumors — unconfirmed — swirled that Amazon would take it over for a new Treasure Valley distribution hub, with preliminary drawing rendered in the Seattle giant’s color palate. — Mark Dee july 8, Idaho Statesman, 8 July 2026

The palate does pack an initial punch, with great viscosity and bold interplay between honeyed sweetness and charred orchard fruits. — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

The goal is for salting to become muscle memory, your fingers an extension of your brain and your palate. — Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

This is just to give a little life to the palate, and is honestly optional. — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 27 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin palatum

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing palate

• cleanse the palate
• cleft palate
• hard palate
• soft palate

Rhymes for palate

• alate
• ballot
• fallot
• mallet
• palette
• pallet
• shallot

Kids Definition

palate

noun

pal·​ate ˈpal-ət 

1

: the roof of the mouth that separates the mouth from the nasal cavity and is made up of a bony front part and a soft flexible back part

2

: the sense of taste

Medical Definition

palate

noun

pal·​ate ˈpal-ət 

: the roof of the mouth separating the mouth from the nasal cavity see hard palate, soft palate