fondue

noun

fon·​due fän-ˈdü 

-ˈdyü,

ˈfän-ˌd(y)ü

variants or less commonly fondu

1

: a dish similar to a soufflé usually made with cheese and bread crumbs

2

a(1)

: a preparation of melted cheese (such as Swiss cheese and Gruyère) usually flavored with white wine and kirsch

(2)

: a dish that consists of small pieces of food (such as meat or fruit) cooked in or dipped into a hot liquid

beef fondue

chocolate fondue

b

: a chafing dish in which fondue is made

Examples of fondue in a Sentence

dip fruit in melted chocolate to have a chocolate fondue

Recent Examples on the Web

Chili cheese fries, $15, are mixed with gouda fondue, turkey chili, and pickled jalapenos. —Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 18 Mar. 2024

While skiing is unlikely to be on the menu in May, activities such as paragliding, hiking, farm visits, and river rafting should be, as well as a slew of Swiss restaurants with dreamy vantage points, serving all manner of fondue and rösti. —Becky Lucas, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Dec. 2023

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a four-course Valentine’s experience featuring cheese fondue, salad, entrée, chocolate fondue, sparkling toast, and $25 gift certificate per couple for a future visit. —The Courier-Journal, 5 Feb. 2024

In the evenings, the crab fondue, mushroom meunière, seafood Clemenceau, crab rice dressing and shrimp yakamein. —The Courier-Journal, 12 Feb. 2024

And our meal was simple – a big salad and cheese fondue served with chunks of French bread for dipping. —Suzanne Havala Hobbs, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024

Add some fun to your holiday party with this fun and casual beer-cheese fondue recipe. —Paige Grandjean, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2023

The newlyweds hosted a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres including fresh fruit, warm crab and cheddar fondue and bourbon street shrimp before a dinner of harvest salad with chicken azel, salmon with an Asian glaze and vegetarian paella. —Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 16 Oct. 2023

The hilltop village of St. Moritz, in Switzerland’s Engadin Valley, is one of Europe’s most exclusive ski resorts—here, timeless elegance meets tasteful discretion, all concealed behind the doors of its iconic Art Nouveau hotels and traditional fondue spots. —Monica Mendal, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, noun derivative from feminine of fondu, past participle of fondre "to melt," going back to Old French — more at found entry 5

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

fondue

noun

fon·​due fän-ˈd(y)ü 

: a preparation of melted cheese and flavorings