sommelier

noun

som·​me·​lier ˌsə-məl-ˈyā How to pronounce sommelier (audio)
plural sommeliers ˌsə-məl-ˈyā(z) How to pronounce sommelier (audio)
: a waiter in a restaurant who has charge of wines and their service : a wine steward

Examples of sommelier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Penned by renowned sommelier Enrico Bernardo, Wine & Travel Mediterranean Islands traverses the region’s mythical places where wine, culture and nature meet. Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025 Ritter is currently starring as sommelier and serial killer Mia Lapierre, aka Lady Vengeance, in Showtime’s Dexter: Resurrection. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 July 2025 Filtered and bottled in a smart-looking package, these unique drinks have become a sommelier favorite for non-alcoholic pairings. Air Mail, 12 July 2025 Never change, Richie. Sweeps (Corey Hendrix) is solidifying his knowledge of wines and growing more confident (master sommelier Alpana Singh appears in a cameo). Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for sommelier

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French soumelier official charged with transportation of supplies, from Old French, pack animal driver, probably alteration of *sommerier, from somier pack animal, from Medieval Latin saugmarius, from Late Latin sagma packsaddle — more at sumpter

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sommelier was in 1829

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Cite this Entry

“Sommelier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sommelier. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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