palate

noun

pal·​ate ˈpa-lət 

1

: the roof of the mouth separating the mouth from the nasal cavity see hard palate, soft palate

2

a

: a usually intellectual taste or liking

too ornate for my palate

… I heard a little too much preaching … and lost my palate for it.

—George Eliot

b

: the sense of taste

serves Korean food adapted for the American palate

Examples of palate in a Sentence

The restaurant serves Korean food adapted for the American palate.

She's been working hard on a menu that will please the palates of all her guests.

Recent Examples on the Web

That meant trusting our own palates, our own references, and our own culture. —Hali Bey Ramdene, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Oct. 2025

Restaurant menus adapt to diners’ evolving palates. —Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025

The palate offers honey, tobacco, and dark fruit, evolving into stone fruit and cocoa. —Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Oct. 2025

The tray will include a vegetarian tempura roll, dragon roll, California crunch roll, and a spicy tuna mango roll, so there’s something for every palate to enjoy. —Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin palatum

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing palate

• cleanse the palate
• cleft palate
• hard palate
• soft palate

Rhymes for palate

• alate
• ballot
• fallot
• mallet
• palette
• pallet
• shallot

Kids Definition

palate

noun

pal·​ate ˈpal-ət 

1

: the roof of the mouth that separates the mouth from the nasal cavity and is made up of a bony front part and a soft flexible back part

2

: the sense of taste

Medical Definition

palate

noun

pal·​ate ˈpal-ət 

: the roof of the mouth separating the mouth from the nasal cavity see hard palate, soft palate