vinegar

noun

vin·​e·​gar ˈvi-ni-gər 

1

: a sour liquid obtained by fermentation of dilute alcoholic liquids and used as a condiment or preservative

2

: ill humor : sourness

3

: vim

Synonyms of vinegar

• energy
• juice
• vigor
• gas
• starch
• ginger
• beans
• dash
• life

Examples of vinegar in a Sentence

glad to see his old friend was still full of vinegar after so many years

Recent Examples on the Web

Beefy tomato slices splashed with buttermilk dressing and earthy, concentrated tomato vine vinegar. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Use a vinegar and water mix monthly to descale and sanitize the coffee maker. — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026

Use alternatives like vinegar for softness, and wool dryer balls for fluffiness and to reduce static. — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2026

Other varieties include honey vinegar, made from mead and vaguely similar to white balsamic; akazu, a beautifully layered red vinegar that comes from aged sake lees; and roasty-toasty beer vinegar, a good swap for malt vinegar. — Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vinegre, from Anglo-French vin egre, from vin wine (from Latin vinum) + egre keen, sour — more at eager

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vinegar

• balsamic vinegar
• cider vinegar
• mother of vinegar
• spit and vinegar
• vinegar eel
• vinegar fly
• wine vinegar

Kids Definition

vinegar

noun

vin·​e·​gar ˈvin-i-gər 

: a sour liquid obtained from cider, wine, or malt and used to flavor or preserve foods

Etymology

Middle English vinegre "vinegar," from early French vin egre (same meaning), literally, "sour wine," from vin "wine" and egre "sharp, sour, eager"; vin from Latin vinum "wine" and egre from Latin acer "sharp, sour, spirited" — related to eager, vine, vintage

Medical Definition

vinegar

noun

vin·​e·​gar ˈvin-i-gər 

1

: a sour liquid used as a condiment or a preservative that is obtained by acetic fermentation of dilute alcoholic liquids (as fermented cider, malt beer, or wine) or of dilute distilled alcohol

2

: a pharmaceutical solution of the active principles of drugs in dilute acetic acid usually prepared by maceration

aromatic vinegar