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

The suites are 25 percent larger than the current standard, with sliding doors and an ottoman so a companion can join for osetra caviar and Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé. —Chris Dong, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2025

There, guests can order caviar and seafood towers at the open-air restaurant while witnessing a bit of engineering magic. —Katherine McGrath, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2025

Guests can linger over a basket of fresh pastries and handmade breads, or order hot dishes such as Austrian French toast made with milk bread and plum jam, or a Schloss Fuschl egg with hollandaise and Salzburg Grüll caviar. —Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2025

Instead of books, Lee finds evidence of a counterfeit-caviar operation. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 1 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