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

Summary Pop star Katy Perry co-founded De Soi, a non-alcoholic aperitif brand, after consistently declining alcohol ventures. — John Kell, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

The aperitif hails from Italy and was developed by Casa Luigi Sarti & Figli, a historic distillery established in Bologna in 1885. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Know which drink to order at what time Drinking is also quite codified; with meals wine is the most common, but vermouth is often enjoyed as an aperitif before dining. — Marti Buckley, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026

To my mind, champagne is more or less an everyday beverage, the perfect aperitif. — Jay McInerney, Air Mail, 25 July 2026

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

1885, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for aperitif

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