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The history of "vitrine" is clear as glass. It comes to English by way of the Old French word vitre, meaning "pane of glass," from Latin vitrum, meaning "glass." "Vitrum" has contributed a number of words to the English language besides "vitrine." "Vitreous" ("resembling glass" or "relating to, derived from, or consisting of glass") is the most common of these. "Vitrify" ("to convert or become converted into glass or into a glassy substance by heat and fusion") is another. A much rarer "vitrum" word - and one that also entered English by way of "vitre" - is vitrailed, meaning "fitted with stained glass."
Examples of vitrine in a Sentence
Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
During her first bombing, Ginny had run for shelter into a perfume shop, where the proprietress methodically moved each bottle from the streetfront vitrine into a neat line on the floor as the dust from the percussive bombs blotted out the sun.
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
For example, the primary suite’s spacious dressing room is inspired by Louis Vuitton—the French fashion house’s signature monogram is emblazoned on the walls—and is decked out with museum-quality glass vitrines for displaying shoes and handbags.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2026
The building’s original Portland stone facade was retained, while the interior has been updated with contemporary codes, with concrete flooring, aluminum and glass vitrines, and stainless steel perimeter wrapping the space.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vitrine
Cite this Entry
“Vitrine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vitrine. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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