appetizer

American  

[ap-i-tahy-zer] / ˈæp ɪˌtaɪ zər /

noun

1. a small portion of a food or drink served before or at the beginning of a meal to stimulate the desire to eat.

2. any small portion that stimulates a desire for more or that indicates more is to follow.

   The first game was an appetizer to a great football season.

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appetizer British  

/ ˈæpɪˌtaɪzə /

noun

1. a small amount of food or drink taken to stimulate the appetite

2. any stimulating foretaste

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Etymology

Origin of appetizer

First recorded in 1860–65; appetiz(ing) + -er ¹

Explanation

An appetizer is part of a meal that's served before the main course. You might serve your dinner guests an appetizer of crab-stuffed mushrooms when they first arrive for dinner. Usually, an appetizer is a small serving of food — just a few bites — meant to be eaten before an entree, and often shared by several people. You can also call an appetizer an hors d'oeuvre. An appetizer is meant to stimulate your appetite, making you extra hungry for your meal. This is where the word comes from, literally meaning "something to whet the appetite" or "something to appetize."

Example Sentences

Enjoy these tomatoes as an appetizer, a side dish, or a midday snack.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

Melania does, however, approve of Mann’s suggestion that she serve an appetizer of caviar-topped golden eggs.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026

Chili’s offers a deal with a drink, appetizer and entree that starts at $10.99.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 6, 2026

On standard Italian menus, pasta is known as a “first course,” in what amounts to a second appetizer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 26, 2025

Inside the diner, my father heard the well-known cry of Greek waiters, and before he knew what was happening the place was going up like a flaming appetizer.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides