aperitif

noun

aper·​i·​tif ə-ˌper-ə-ˈtēf 

a-;

ˌä-pər-(ə-)ˈtēf

: an alcoholic drink taken before a meal as an appetizer

Examples of aperitif in a Sentence

They served us champagne as an aperitif.

Recent Examples on the Web

Far better is to flip those ratios, making a sparkling wine drink with just a little absinthe and a perfect pre-dinner aperitif. —Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 27 Dec. 2025

Also on offer are artisanal Italian beers, prosecco aperitifs and a few cocktails as well as Campari and Limoncello. —Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025

Locals and visitors alike still flock to its quayside terrace for an aperitif served with a side of people watching, just like Jean Cocteau, who lived in room 22, and his friends once did. —Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 21 Dec. 2025

The restaurant also serves a handful of low-ABV cocktails ($14-$17) like the bon vivant, made with shochu, dry vermouth, oleo saccharum, Pescadero sea salt and bay laurel oil; or the low tide, featuring an aloe aperitif, cucumber-parsley cordial and tonic. —Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French apéritif, from apéritif, adjective, "aperient, stimulating appetite," going back to Old French aperitif "aperient," borrowed from Medieval Latin aperitīvus, variant of Late Latin apertīvus, from Latin apertus, past participle of aperīre "to open" + -īvus -ive — more at aperient

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for aperitif

• beef
• brief
• chief
• fief
• grief
• leaf
• lief
• reef
• reif
• seif
• sheaf
• thief