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

Serve the chops over fluffy rice or couscous with a crisp side salad tossed in a tart vinaigrette. —Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025

To serve, arrange generous helpings of the nuts and sauteed apples over a bed of arugula dressed with a cider-shallot vinaigrette. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025

Each table also has insalata of shredded cabbage, carrots, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, and tomato with vinaigrette dressing. —R29 Team, Refinery29, 19 Sep. 2025

Each night there is also a selection of East and West oysters with a yuzu vinaigrette. —John Mariani, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 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