gourmet
goor-MAY
/ˈɡʊrmeɪ/
A connoisseur of good food and drink; (adjective) involving high-quality or exotic ingredients and skilled preparation.
Suggests high quality, sophistication, and luxury. It is often used as a marketing term to elevate ordinary food products.
The story behind the word. In medieval France, a gourmet (or gromme) was a servant, specifically a wine-merchant's assistant or groom. Because these assistants had to taste and select wines, the word gradually shifted to mean a person with a highly refined palate for wine, and eventually, food.
Word relationships
- epicure: Epicure implies a highly refined, almost intellectual appreciation of food, whereas gourmet is more widely used for general lovers of fine dining.
Commonly confused with
- gourmand: A gourmet is a refined connoisseur who appreciates quality, while a gourmand is someone who simply loves to eat in large quantities.
Word family
- gourmandise (noun): The appreciation of fine food, or greediness.
Collocations
- gourmet meal
- gourmet chef
- gourmet kitchen
Example sentences
- "As a true gourmet, he spent his weekends exploring artisanal markets for rare truffles." Describing a food lover.
- "The supermarket opened a new gourmet section featuring imported cheeses and fine wines." Describing a product.
Memory hook
A gourmet eats gour-met (gold-metal) food. Refined palate, fine food.
When not to use
Avoid using 'gourmet' to describe simple, everyday comfort food unless it has been significantly elevated with premium ingredients.
Fun facts
- The shift of 'gourmet' from meaning a lowly servant to a high-class food expert is one of the most famous examples of 'amelioration' (a word gaining a more positive meaning) in linguistics.
Related words
Explore more words
epicurean, degustation, sumptuous, luxurious, exquisite, extravagant
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