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

The mezcal is rich and robust on the palate, showcasing flavors of dark chocolate, roasted spices, and a gentle, sweet chili heat reminiscent of mole. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

The palate brings a fusion of orange-vanilla cola and Madagascar vanilla bean, rounded out with the subtle warmth of fig biscuit. —Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Sep. 2025

Its signature restaurant, FYSH at EDITION, wins the hearts and palates of guests with inventive, scale-to-tail seafood (like vanilla gelato with tuna eyes) amid velvet banquets and tropical plants. —AFAR Media, 2 Sep. 2025

Growing up in the palate of the German language forced me constantly into this two-by-two, like a line of kindergartners. —Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2025

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