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

Start with oysters on the half shell, served with a pickled red onion mignonette. — Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026

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

Teaming fresh ginger and lime juice with a handful of pantry staples, this golden mignonette ups the umami while still letting the oyster shine. — Derick Wade, Saveur, 15 Oct. 2025

That presents itself in items like oysters on ice, for $22, which contains a half-dozen East Coast oysters, mignonette, cocktail sauce and a lemon. — Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026

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