aioli

American  

[ahy-oh-lee, ey-oh-, a-yaw-lee] / aɪˈoʊ li, eɪˈoʊ-, a yɔˈli /

noun

Cooking.

1. a garlic-flavored mayonnaise of Provence, served with fish and seafood and often with vegetables.

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aïoli British  

/ aɪˈəʊlɪ, eɪ- /

noun

1. garlic mayonnaise

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Usage

What does aioli mean? Aioli is a sauce made by mashing garlic and olive oil into a paste, sometimes with the addition of egg.Traditionally, Spanish-style aioli is a thick paste made only from garlic and olive oil, while French-style aioli often includes egg. Sometimes aioli is used as a fancier word for mayonnaise, especially when it has garlic in it. In all of its forms, aioli is an emulsion, meaning its ingredients are specially blended into smooth consistency.Example: The menu says aioli, but I’m pretty sure this is just mayo.

Etymology

Origin of aioli

1895–1900; < French aïoli < Provençal, equivalent to ai garlic (< Latin allium ) + oli oil (< Latin oleum; oil )

Compare meaning

How does aioli compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• aioli vs. mayonnaise

Example Sentences

Hall tentatively dips a fry into the truffle aioli sauce.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

They serve it with a nice garlic aioli.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2025

Sink into one of the plush leather banquettes to nosh on steakhouse classics like steak tartare, creamed kale and the most incredible double cheeseburger topped with in-house American cheese and dill aioli.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 1, 2024

Take my aioli recipe for example: It’s so flavorful, and yes it’s dense, but I think you’re likely to use less of it than you would an industrial mayonnaise.

From Salon • May 22, 2024

The average English palate would shudder at the flavour of aioli, but it would be charmed by the insertion of that petit point d'ail which turned mere goodness into triumph and laurelled perfection.

From The Secret Glory by Machen, Arthur