vanilla

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noun va·nil·la \ və-ˈni-lə , -ˈne- \

Definition of vanilla

1 a :vanilla bean

b :a commercially important extract of the vanilla bean that is used especially as a flavoring

2 :any of a genus (Vanilla) of tropical American climbing epiphytic orchids

See vanilla defined for English-language learners

See vanilla defined for kids

vanilla was our Word of the Day on 11/19/2010. Hear the podcast!

Examples of vanilla in a Sentence

The frosting is flavored with vanilla.

Recent Examples of vanilla from the Web

The peach ice cream had chunks of fresh peaches and the Tres Leches had vanilla wafers, so there was some texture in the otherwise sinfully creamy ice cream.

— birmingham magazine, AL.com, "Vegetarian and gluten-free dishes offered on popular concert venue's restaurant week menu," 18 Aug. 2017
So light a vanilla-bean candle, grab a cashmere turtleneck, and lean into your Instagram feed.

— hilary weaver, vanityfair.com, "Reese Witherspoon’s Instagram Stories Take on the Hamptons," 18 Aug. 2017
A Shot in the Dark, a mocha draft affogato with La Colombe mocha draft latte topped with vanilla bean gelato.

— joyce smith, kansascity, "You can eat or wear these KC solar eclipse specials," 18 Aug. 2017
The Italian dessert is supposed to serve up contrast: hot and cold, sweet and bitter, vanilla and espresso.

— leah eskin, idahostatesman, "Coffee custard transforms plain ice cream into sundae with a kick," 8 Aug. 2017
I was drawn back time and time again, hoping for a satisfying, slurp-able meal solution, only to be served instead some too-sweet banana-and-vanilla business that tastes, suspiciously, not at all green.

— amiel stanek, Bon Appetit, "Green Gazpacho Is Just a Savory Green Smoothie," 31 July 2017
If making ahead and refrigerating, then be sure to bring it to room temperature before serving, or heat it up and top each serving with a dollop of premium vanilla ice cream or silky crème fraîche.

— susan russo, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Donut peaches worthy of higher profile," 17 July 2017
The fast food chain will give away free vanilla cones all day July 16.

— AL.com, "New Blue Bell, free McDonald's ice cream, GLO Airlines suspension top today's business news," 13 July 2017
Beat oil, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until well blended and fold in zucchini.

— Cincinnati.com, "By request: Chocolate zucchini bread, cake," 13 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of vanilla

borrowed from New Latin, borrowed from Spanish vainilla "the vanilla plant and fruit," diminutive of vaina "sheath, pod," going back to Latin vāgīna "scabbard, sheath"; replacing earlier vaynilla, borrowed from Spanish

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1662

See Words from the same year

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

vanilla

adjective

Definition of vanilla

1 :flavored with vanilla

2 :lacking distinction :plain, ordinary, conventional

See vanilla defined for English-language learners

Examples of vanilla in a Sentence

The décor is pretty vanilla.
a plain vanilla version of a song that's been recorded more times than necessary

Did You Know?

For lexicographers, vanilla has more flavor than chocolate, because it adds a tasty synonym for plain to the English menu. The noun vanilla was first served up in 1662, but it took almost 200 years for its adjective use to become established for things, like ice and sugar, flavored with vanilla. By the 1970s vanilla was perceived as being the plain flavor of the ice-cream world, and people began using the word itself to describe anything plain, ordinary, or conventional.

First Known Use of vanilla

1846

vanilla Synonyms

Synonyms

beige, characterless, faceless, featureless, indistinctive, neutral, noncommital, nondescript

Related Words

boring, drab, dreary, dry, dull, flat, humdrum, leaden, monotonous, pedestrian, stodgy, stuffy, tame, tedious, tiresome, tiring, uninteresting, wearisome, weary, wearying

Near Antonyms

arresting, bold, catchy, dramatic, emphatic, eye-catching, flamboyant, showy, splashy, striking

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

VANILLA Defined for English Language Learners

vanilla

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noun

Definition of vanilla for English Language Learners

: a dark substance that is made from the beans of a tropical plant and that is used to flavor food

vanilla

adjective

Definition of vanilla for English Language Learners

: having the flavor of vanilla
: not having any special features or qualities

VANILLA Defined for Kids

vanilla

play

noun va·nil·la \ və-ˈni-lə , -ˈne- \

Definition of vanilla for Students

:a substance extracted from vanilla beans and used as a flavoring especially for sweet foods and beverages

Medical Dictionary

vanilla

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noun va·nil·la \ və-ˈnil-ə , -ˈnel- \

medical Definition of vanilla

1 a :vanilla bean

b :a commercially important extract of the vanilla bean that is prepared by soaking comminuted vanilla beans in water and ethyl alcohol and that is used especially as a flavoring (as in pharmaceutical preparations)

2 :any of a genus (Vanilla) of tropical American climbing orchids