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

Dinner began with a plated salad of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, slivered red onion, English cucumber wheels, chickpeas, and watermelon radish, drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette. —Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 28 July 2025

Dressed up with balsamic vinaigrette and ground pepper, Full Hand’s tomatoes make a lovely and filling lunch for $13. —Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 26 July 2025

Season with salt and pepper, then add the vinaigrette, rosemary and thyme. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 22 July 2025

Drizzle the vinaigrette over the avocado mixture, then toss in a few generous handfuls of baby arugula. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 July 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