mayonnaise

noun may·on·naise \ ˈmā-ə-ˌnāz , ˌmā-ə-ˈnāz , ˈma-ˌnāz , ˈmā-ˌnāz \

|Updated on: 12 Jul 2018

Definition of mayonnaise

: a dressing made chiefly of egg yolks, vegetable oils, and vinegar or lemon juice

See mayonnaise defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of mayonnaise from the Web

Salads of the leafy green and mayonnaise-based varieties are solid sides.

— jennifer mcclellan, ajc, "6 colorful Fourth of July recipes to make your party sparkle," 4 July 2018
Salads of the leafy green and mayonnaise-based varieties are solid sides.

— jennifer mcclellan, USA TODAY, "6 colorful July 4th recipes to make your party sparkle," 3 July 2018
Finally, the omelet is slid onto a plate and smeared with garlicky mayonnaise.

— jeanmarie brownson, chicagotribune.com, "Pack up a picnic of Spanish tapas to feed a crowd," 3 July 2018
After grilling the corn, the cheese, mixed with mayonnaise, is brushed on the cobs, then more cotija is sprinkled on top with chile powder.

— anush elbakyan, BostonGlobe.com, "5 easy Fourth of July recipes for the grill," 29 June 2018
Some may argue that mayonnaise has no place on an Italian sub.

— kara baskin, BostonGlobe.com, "The best Italian sub around, with mayo and memories," 18 June 2018
This recipe subs mayonnaise for yogurt and the results are fantastic.

— audrey bruno, SELF, "This Is How to Make Homemade Yogurt," 15 June 2018
Make Tangy Horseradish Fixin': Whisk together prepared horseradish (squeezed of excess moisture), sour cream, white wine vinegar, mayonnaise, and sugar in a bowl.

— kristina kurek, Country Living, "Grilled Hotdogs with Fixin's," 13 June 2018
Plain yogurt can replace mayonnaise in tuna salad, or be used in a homemade salad dressing.

— lori nickel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Chin Up: The body's second brain — the gut — and how to keep it healthy," 13 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mayonnaise.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of mayonnaise

French

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1845

in the meaning defined above

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MAYONNAISE Defined for English Language Learners

mayonnaise

noun

Definition of mayonnaise for English Language Learners

: a thick, white sauce used especially in salads and on sandwiches and made chiefly of eggs, vegetable oil, and vinegar or lemon juice
: a food made by mixing something (such as chopped eggs) with mayonnaise