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

And for the photo minded, Sunshine’s toasts — like the spicy tuna or caviar toasts — will also pop on social media. —Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025

The price point is, on average, $10-50, though some more high-dollar items, such as prime rib or caviar tins, can fetch $150. —Mackensy Lunsford, Nashville Tennessean, 26 Sep. 2025

Other sessions include a keynote exploring the relationships between food and society, a three-hour demonstration with Wilton Rancheria on how to process acorns to eat, a panel introducing the Slow Food farms of Sacramento and caviar tasting with Tsar Nicoulai Caviar. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2025

My shaman Neal has an organic medicinal caviar that works wonders. —Carolina De Armas, Air Mail, 20 Sep. 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