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

Taylor eats funeral potatoes while Jessi feels sick to her stomach knowing Dakota is there doing bumps of caviar and wooing his baby momma back. —Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025

The glamorous night was inspired by the James Bond/007 franchise, featured a gift for the guests in attendance and offered plenty of eats — from Michelin-star-level hors d'oeuvres to a full caviar bar and multiple food stations, an insider shares. —Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025

Offering a contemporary take on Creole cuisine, the restaurant serves up dishes like oyster stew with Herbsaint cream and smoked salmon cheesecake with 180-day aged caviar. —Susan B. Barnes, Travel + Leisure, 12 Nov. 2025

Once cooked, those miniscule grains fluff up to be the size of small caviar. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 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