noun

vinaigrette

vin-ih-GRET/ˌvɪnɪˈɡret/

A salad dressing made with oil, vinegar, and seasonings.

The vinaigrette combines oil, vinegar, and herbs.

Oil and vinegar shaken together with herbs in clear jar beside salad, dressing poured onto leaves, no bottle labels.

Etymology

vinOld Frenchwine

+aigrOld Frenchsour

+etteFrenchdiminutive

The “wine” and “sour” pieces describe vinegar as sour wine. The diminutive named a vinegar condiment, later specifically the oil-and-vinegar dressing used on salads.

In context

CTV Your Morning2:58

typical vinaigrette we have some neutral oil i always like to use neutral oil here

How to properly use Tarragon in butter, chicken and other simple dishes | Your Morning

More examples

The salad came with a mustard vinaigrette.
A little vinaigrette coated the leaves.
He seasoned the vinaigrette with herbs.

Forms

vinaigrette · vinaigrettes

Similar words

dressing: Dressing is the general salad sauce category; vinaigrette is based on oil and vinegar.
mayonnaise: Mayonnaise is a thicker egg-based emulsion; vinaigrette is typically an oil-and-vinegar mixture.