sommelier

noun

som·​me·​lier ˌsə-məl-ˈyā 

plural sommeliers ˌsə-məl-ˈyā(z) 

: 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

Each recipe also has a wine pairing suggestion by Selengut’s wife and sommelier, April Pogue. — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 24 Oct. 2026

How the team finds your fragrance Bath and her scent sommeliers love to compete on who finds the customer’s favorite scent. — Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026

One of the best new mezcal brands just released a unique new expression in collaboration with one of the country’s top sommeliers. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2026

Hanging with the sommeliers in Beverly Hills (Jason) developed his palate. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026

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

Video

How to Read a French Menu