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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Brought to life through campy, surrealist sets and unforgettable cameos, the show takes the viewer through a series of dreamlike vignettes that brilliantly articulate the absurdity and tedium of life under late-capitalism. Samantha Allen, Them, 20 Nov. 2024 Novelist Christine Coulson also contributes short fictional vignettes of each project, resulting in a volume that defies coffee-table expectations. Maya Ibbitson, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
The idea is to fix any issues that your lens introduces, such as darkness around the edges (vignetting) or warped perspectives. PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024 Silverbacks albums are always a tapestry of different ideas and themes, vignettes more than a clean narrative. Ryan Leas, SPIN, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vignette 

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

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Dictionary Entries Near vignette

Cite this Entry

“Vignette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vignette. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

vignette

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

More from Merriam-Webster on vignette

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