vanilla

1 of 2

noun

va·​nil·​la və-ˈni-lə How to pronounce vanilla (audio) -ˈne- How to pronounce vanilla (audio)
1
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

vanilla

2 of 2

adjective

1
: flavored with vanilla
2
: lacking distinction : plain, ordinary, conventional

Did you know?

How did vanilla get such a bad rap? The flavor with that name certainly has enough fans, with the bean of the Vanilla genus of orchids finding its way into products ranging from ice cream to coffee to perfumes to air fresheners. Vanilla's unfortunate reputation arose due to its being regarded as the "basic" flavor among ice-cream selections, particularly as more complex flavors emerged on the market. (Its somewhat beigey color probably didn't help.) From there, people began using the adjective to describe anything plain, ordinary, or conventional.

Examples of vanilla in a Sentence

Noun The frosting is flavored with vanilla. Adjective The décor is pretty vanilla. a plain vanilla version of a song that's been recorded more times than necessary
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The brand new treats have a white chocolate center with vanilla ice cream and cherry notes, and are surrounded in a dark chocolate coating. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 Don't fret, though, the classic vanilla will be back soon, since the orange-vanilla version is only here for a limited period. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2024 Each of those warm, caramelized orange halves is then plated with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream, an additional sprinkle of cardamom and a sprig of mint for an absolutely delightful dessert. Ellie Krieger, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 For those who prefer a scented stretch mark cream, this product’s sweet vanilla and almond fragrance is pleasant but not overwhelming. Phoebe Sklansky, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024 The more restrained sweet flavor in the chocolate allowed the warm vanilla and brown butter flavors in the cookie to soar to new heights. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 6 Mar. 2024 There are notes of orange-chocolate, green apple, cinnamon, vanilla custard, and black pepper on the palate, with a bit of earthy grass notes on the finish. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2024 The restock includes the original black and forest floor colors alongside a new vanilla hue. Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024 Featuring a flavor profile of sweet honey, warm vanilla, and smooth bourbon notes, Queen of Versailles Coffee’s debut line is shaping up to be a hit amongst coffee connoisseurs. Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vanilla.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of vanilla was in 1662

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Dictionary Entries Near vanilla

Cite this Entry

“Vanilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vanilla. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vanilla

noun
va·​nil·​la
və-ˈnil-ə,
-ˈnel-
: a flavoring made from the long pods of a tropical American climbing orchid
also : this orchid or one of the same genus

Medical Definition

vanilla

noun
va·​nil·​la və-ˈnil-ə How to pronounce vanilla (audio) -ˈnel- How to pronounce vanilla (audio)
1
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

More from Merriam-Webster on vanilla

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