cognac

noun

co·​gnac ˈkōn-ˌyak 

also ˈkȯn-

or ˈkän-

variants often Cognac

: a brandy from the departments of Charente and Charente-Maritime distilled from white wine

Examples of cognac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Beijing retaliated by imposing minimum price requirements on French cognac, sparking fears among pork and dairy producers that they could be targeted next. —James Regan, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2025

Sazerac Rye has roots in New Orleans dating back to the 19th century, when New Orleans bartenders began to make Sazeracs using rye whiskey, when there were brandy and cognac shortages. —Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025

Quince’s version comes in cognac, black, and taupe and is made from 100 percent top-grain Italian leather. —Claire Gallam, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2025

Tom Hambridge, the drummer and producer who would guide Guy’s later albums, once visited Guy in a dressing room and watched as Guy returned an expensive bottle of Rémy Martin XO cognac that was waiting, open, for him there. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 30 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Cognac, France

First Known Use

1751, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cognac

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• comeback
• cutback

Kids Definition

cognac

noun

co·​gnac ˈkōn-ˌyak 

often capitalized

: a French brandy

Etymology

named for Cognac, town in France in and near which it is made