1
a
: a picture (such as an engraving or photograph) that shades off gradually into the surrounding paper
b
: the pictorial part of a postage stamp design as distinguished from the frame and lettering
2
a
: a short descriptive literary sketch
b
: a brief incident or scene (as in a play or movie)
3
: a running ornament (as of vine leaves, tendrils, and grapes) put on or just before a title page or at the beginning or end of a chapter
also
: a small decorative design or picture so placed
vignetted; vignetting
1
: to finish (something, such as a photograph) like a vignette
2
: to describe briefly
vignetter
noun
vi·gnet·ter
-etə(r)
plural -s
1
: one who makes vignettes : vignettist
2
: a photographic device for vignetting (as a screen with an aperture the edges of which insensibly become opaque)
Did you know?
The Connection Between Vignette and Vines
Vignette comes from the Middle French noun vigne, meaning "vine." In English, the word was first used in the early 17th century for a design or illustration that ran along the blank border of a page, or one that marked the beginning or end of a chapter. Such designs got their name because they often looked like little vines. It wasn't until the late 19th century that vignette began being used for a brief literary sketch or narrative.
Cite this Entry
“Vignette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vignette. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.
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