aperitif
noun
aper·i·tif ə-ˌper-ə-ˈtēf 
a-;
ˌä-pər-(ə-)ˈtēf
: an alcoholic drink taken before a meal as an appetizer
Example Sentences
They served us champagne as an aperitif.
Recent Examples on the Web An aperitif, DeSoi Champignon Dreams, merges reishi mushroom and passionflower. 
Ann Trieger Kurland, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 The romantic scene was made even more atmospheric by key additions like the lemons brought in to decorate a pergola and incredible pizza and pasta stations filled with artful displays of produce and aperitif snacks. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2022 Earlier this year, Haus announced a deal with national distributor Winebow that would bring the aperitif to 24 states. Emily Saladino, Bon Appétit, 9 Aug. 2022 This is a fuller, richer style that goes from aperitif to the dinner table. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 22 Apr. 2022 Its marketing—such as calling it an aperitif instead of a vermouth—influenced others in the space. Emily Saladino, Bon Appétit, 9 Aug. 2022 As with Spanish vermouth or a Mexican mezcal, pisco often appears ahead of a meal as a lunch or dinner aperitif. Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 13 June 2022 Thanksgiving is a marathon, not a sprint, so warm up your palate European-style with a light aperitif. Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 4 Aug. 2022 And don’t come at me with your social media pearl-clutching over white negronis, because bartender Andy Pennington made one with mezcal that brought smoke to the party for a gratifyingly bittersweet aperitif. Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Aug. 2022 See More
Ann Trieger Kurland, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 The romantic scene was made even more atmospheric by key additions like the lemons brought in to decorate a pergola and incredible pizza and pasta stations filled with artful displays of produce and aperitif snacks. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2022 Earlier this year, Haus announced a deal with national distributor Winebow that would bring the aperitif to 24 states. Emily Saladino, Bon Appétit, 9 Aug. 2022 This is a fuller, richer style that goes from aperitif to the dinner table. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 22 Apr. 2022 Its marketing—such as calling it an aperitif instead of a vermouth—influenced others in the space. Emily Saladino, Bon Appétit, 9 Aug. 2022 As with Spanish vermouth or a Mexican mezcal, pisco often appears ahead of a meal as a lunch or dinner aperitif. Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 13 June 2022 Thanksgiving is a marathon, not a sprint, so warm up your palate European-style with a light aperitif. Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 4 Aug. 2022 And don’t come at me with your social media pearl-clutching over white negronis, because bartender Andy Pennington made one with mezcal that brought smoke to the party for a gratifyingly bittersweet aperitif. Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from French apéritif, from apéritif, adjective, "aperient, stimulating appetite," going back to Old French aperitif "aperient," borrowed from Medieval Latin aperitīvus, variant of Late Latin apertīvus, from Latin apertus, past participle of aperīre "to open" + -īvus -ive — more at aperient
First Known Use
1894, in the meaning defined above
aperitif
noun
as in digestif
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- digestif
- tipple
- alcohol
- liquor
- drink
- bottle
- spirits
- nightcap
- cocktail
- rum
- booze
- chaser
- intoxicant
- stimulant
- grog
- firewater
- bracer
- potable
- hooch
- beer
- wine
- snifter
- ardent spirits
- strong drink
- aqua vitae
- pop
- juice
- ale
- whet
- moonshine
- load
- belt
- sauce
- tot
- shooter
- inebriant
- slug
- lush
- brew
- brandy
- liqueur
- peg
- mead
- gin
- nip
- snort
- sake
- whiskey
- mixed drink
- mum
- vodka
- schnapps
- tequila
- home brew
- microbrew
- malt liquor
- mescal
- shot
- John Barleycorn
- brewski
- brewage
- nappy
- saki
- whisky
- barley-bree
- barley-broo
- mao-tai
- Dutch courage
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nonintoxicant