vignette

1 of 2

noun

vi·​gnette vin-ˈyet How to pronounce vignette (audio)
vēn-
1
a
: a picture (such as an engraving or photograph) that shades off gradually into the surrounding paper
b
: the pictorial part of a postage stamp design as distinguished from the frame and lettering
2
a
: a short descriptive literary sketch
b
: a brief incident or scene (as in a play or movie)
3
: a running ornament (as of vine leaves, tendrils, and grapes) put on or just before a title page or at the beginning or end of a chapter
also : a small decorative design or picture so placed
vignettist noun

vignette

2 of 2

verb

vignetted; vignetting

transitive verb

1
: to finish (something, such as a photograph) like a vignette
2
: to describe briefly
vignetter noun

Did you know?

The Connection Between Vignette and Vines

Vignette comes from the Middle French noun vigne, meaning "vine." In English, the word was first used in the early 17th century for a design or illustration that ran along the blank border of a page, or one that marked the beginning or end of a chapter. Such designs got their name because they often looked like little vines. It wasn't until the late 19th century that vignette began being used for a brief literary sketch or narrative.

Examples of vignette in a Sentence

Noun The play's program features a little vignette about each member of the cast. The film is a series of vignettes about living with cancer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
From solitary travelers finding solace to lovers entwined in intimate whispers, each vignette reflects facets of human existence. Billboard China, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024 The film’s events appear to unfold over the course of an afternoon, but perhaps these vignettes gesture to the general, ambling drift of Iris’ routine. Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Feb. 2024 Four vignettes showed off spreads of feather dusters and dishes, hourglasses and aprons, bedspreads and blankets, wine ware and ornate door knobs (read: zebra heads). Katie Toussaint, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 One of the most poignant moments in the entire series comes during Uncle Iroh’s vignette, which features the retired general memorializing his late son, Lu Ten. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 25 Feb. 2024 Over the course of a summer, Jackson spends untold hours with Sharpton, and unspools those hours in a recursive series of vignettes, each one taking the measure of the man in a new and surprising way. Longreads, 23 Feb. 2024 The second act is entirely different from the first — one continuous scene instead of short, shifting vignettes — and the contrast is stunningly effective. Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2024 The piece, purchased from a Madison Avenue gallerist, features a large Buddha surrounded by intricate vignettes depicting his life, in unalloyed copper with traces of gilding. Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2024 But these vignettes add up to much more than the sum of their parts, merging into a touching intergenerational tale about the importance of family, the poignancy of aging, and the role of tradition in immigrant life. Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vignette.' 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

Noun

French, from Middle French vignete, from diminutive of vigne vine — more at vine entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of vignette was in 1611

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near vignette

Cite this Entry

“Vignette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vignette. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vignette

noun
vi·​gnette
vin-ˈyet,
vēn-
: a brief description in words : sketch

More from Merriam-Webster on vignette

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!