sommelier

noun

som·​me·​lier ˌsə-məl-ˈyā 

plural sommeliers ˌsə-məl-ˈyā(z) 

: a waiter in a restaurant who has charge of wines and their service : a wine steward

Examples of sommelier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The heroine is an American sommelier who loses her sense of taste after contracting COVID-19 and goes to Paris for a new job. —Danielle Postel-Vinay, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025

Pepino’s sommelier and wine curator Lucas Lanci is creating a program of natural California and South American wines, a well as a small selection of Peruvian and local beers. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025

This eight-room boutique hotel around the corner from the tranquil Piazza Farnese and just 10 minutes’ walk from the Christmas market in Piazza Navona was designed for lovers of design and wine—most of the staff here are sommeliers, and the in-room wine fridge can be stocked with your favorites. —Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 18 Oct. 2025

Sara Jimenez, sommelier and owner of Somm in the City agrees. —Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French soumelier official charged with transportation of supplies, from Old French, pack animal driver, probably alteration of *sommerier, from somier pack animal, from Medieval Latin saugmarius, from Late Latin sagma packsaddle — more at sumpter

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

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