caviar

noun

cav·​i·​ar ˈka-vē-ˌär 

 also  ˈkä-

variants or less commonly caviare

1

: processed salted roe of large fish (such as sturgeon)

2

: something considered too delicate or lofty for mass appreciation

—usually used in the phrase caviar to the general

3

: something considered the best of its kind

Did you know?

The eggs, or roe, of sturgeon are called caviar. Preserved with salt, caviar is usually eaten as an appetizer. Most true caviar is produced in Russia and Iran, from fish taken from the Caspian and Black seas. The best grade, beluga, is prepared from large black or gray eggs; fresh beluga caviar is relatively scarce and thus expensive. Lesser grades are from smaller, denser eggs. In the U.S., the roe of salmon, whitefish, lumpfish, and paddlefish is sometimes sold under the name caviar.

Examples of caviar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Those who paid the VIP ticket price of $400 had access to Tsar Nicolai caviar, Hog Island oysters, Cypress Grove cheese and VELI Vodka (from Montana) cocktails. —Laura Ness, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025

Another was a black Chihuahua in a caviar tin. —Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025

The menu consists mostly of a caviar list and a $95 per person prix fixe. —Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025

This will be the first West 7th brunch spot that serves both caviar and eggs Benedict at the same time. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

earlier cavery, caviarie, from obsolete Italian caviari, plural of caviaro, from Turkish havyar

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for caviar

• abattoir
• alcazar
• autocar
• avatar
• belshazzar
• caviare
• cinnabar
• commissar
• condylar
• deodar
• handlebar
• isobar

Kids Definition

caviar

noun

cav·​i·​ar

variants also caviare

ˈkav-ē-ˌär 

 also  ˈkäv-

: the salted eggs of a large fish (as the sturgeon) usually served as an appetizer