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

For a version that offers deceptive simplicity alongside unadulterated flavors, my palate gravitates toward Hainanese chicken and rice (cơm gà hải nam). —Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 31 July 2025

Where Buc-ee's can feel loud, crowded, and often chaotic, Wawa is more like a refreshing palate cleanser. —Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 13 Aug. 2025

Official tasting notes list peach, apricot, floral honey, tropical fruits, toffee, and sweet oak on the palate, and it was bottled at 43.9 percent ABV. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 Aug. 2025

The judges called out its sweet aromas, followed by hints of nutmeg, toffee, and sweet citrus on the palate with a long, warm finish. —Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 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