mayonnaise

American  

[mey-uh-neyz, mey-uh-neyz] / ˌmeɪ əˈneɪz, ˈmeɪ əˌneɪz /

noun

1. a thick dressing of egg yolks, vinegar or lemon juice, oil, and seasonings, used for salads, sandwiches, vegetable dishes, etc.

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mayonnaise British  

/ ˌmeɪəˈneɪz /

noun

1. a thick creamy sauce made from egg yolks, oil, and vinegar or lemon juice, eaten with salads, eggs, etc

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Etymology

Origin of mayonnaise

1835–45; < French, equivalent to mayon (perhaps variant of Mahón, town in Minorca) + -aise -ese

Compare meaning

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

• aioli vs. mayonnaise

Example Sentences

McCormick is putting up $29.1 billion in stock and $15.7 billion in cash, and will own 35% of the combined company that includes Unilever’s signature food brands such as Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Knorr soup mixes.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

The pair, who live in a cramped studio apartment in a crumbling colonial-era building, can’t afford butter or mayonnaise, so breakfast is a piece of plain bread.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026

The company has struggled in recent years as demand had softened for some of its core products, including Lunchables, Capri Sun, macaroni and cheese and mayonnaise.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025

The key factor that improves nutrient absorption is pairing it with olive oil, mayonnaise or another oil-based dressing.

From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2025

But Gladys protested that the best one of all was the Mary bank, and she used up all the pennies in her mayonnaise jar to work the miracle.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez