vinaigrette

noun

vin·​ai·​grette ˌvi-ni-ˈgret 

1

: a sauce made typically of oil, vinegar, and seasonings and used especially on salads, cold meats, or fish

called also vinaigrette dressing

2

: a small ornamental box or bottle with perforated top used for holding an aromatic preparation (such as smelling salts)

Examples of vinaigrette in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sherry vinaigrette is cut through with hunks of creamy blue cheese, a trick inspired by my favorite salad at Via Carota in New York City's West Village. —Elazar Sontag, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Sep. 2025

Other similar dressings include honey mustard, balsamic and other vinaigrettes. —Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025

The basil oil drizzled over top adds vibrant, fresh herb flavor and is a fun change of pace from a classic vinaigrette. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025

As for salad offerings, there's a niçoise salad with tuna and dijon vinaigrette, warm shrimp salad and haricots verts salad (or, dressed up green beans). —Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from vinaigre vinegar

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for vinaigrette

• alphabet
• arpanet
• bayonet
• biuret
• cigarette
• clarinet
• coronet
• coverlet
• dataset
• epithet
• ethernet
• heavyset

Kids Definition

vinaigrette

noun

vin·​ai·​grette ˌvin-i-ˈgret 

: a sauce made of oil, vinegar, and seasonings and used especially on salads, cold meats, or fish