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gourmand

noun
gour·​mand | \ ˈgu̇r-ËŒmänd How to pronounce gourmand (audio) , -mÉ™nd\

Definition of gourmand

1 : one who is excessively fond of eating and drinking
2 : one who is heartily interested in good food and drink
Other Words from gourmand Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about gourmand

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Other Words from gourmand

gourmandism \ ˈgu̇r-​ËŒmän-​ËŒdi-​zÉ™m How to pronounce gourmandism (audio) , -​mÉ™n-​ \ noun
gourmandize \ ˈgu̇r-​ËŒmän-​ËŒdÄ«z How to pronounce gourmandize (audio) , -​mÉ™n-​ \ intransitive verb

Choose the Right Synonym for gourmand

epicure, gourmet, gourmand, gastronome mean one who takes pleasure in eating and drinking. epicure implies fastidiousness and voluptuousness of taste. gourmet implies being a connoisseur in food and drink and the discriminating enjoyment of them. gourmand implies a hearty appetite for good food and drink, not without discernment, but with less than a gourmet's. gastronome implies that one has studied extensively the history and rituals of haute cuisine.

Did You Know?

What God has plagu'd us with this gormaund guest? As this exasperated question from Alexander Pope's 18th-century translation of Homer's Odyssey suggests, being a gourmand is not necessarily a good thing. When "gourmand" began appearing in English texts in the 15th century, it was a decidedly bad thing, a synonym of "glutton" that was reserved for a greedy eater who consumed well past satiation. That negative connotation remained until English speakers borrowed the similar-sounding (and much more positive) "gourmet" from French in the 19th century. Since then, the meaning of "gourmand" has softened, so that although it still isn't wholly flattering, it now suggests someone who likes good food in large quantities rather than a slobbering glutton.

Examples of gourmand in a Sentence

a finicky gourmand who vacationed in Europe every year simply for the wine the kind of gourmand who swallows food without even pausing to taste it

Recent Examples on the Web

 For example, the genius of Thierry Mugler’s Angel is its combination of patchouli with a gourmand sweet note. — April Long, Town & Country, "Jackie Kennedy's Unexpected Love of Patchouli," 28 July 2019 To most consumers, even gourmands, a vanilla bean is an ordinary thing. — Lane Florsheim, WSJ, "Why This Vanilla Is Loved by Michelin-Starred Pastry Chefs," 11 June 2019 Liebling’s wide range of reporting often included loving passages about French cooking, but those who knew him always understood that there was more of the gourmand than of the gourmet behind this interest. — Roger Angell, The New Yorker, "Witnesses to D Day," 6 June 2019 After six months, the once numerous gilets jaunes had been edged out by a different demonstration and a handful of gourmands. — Stephen Paduano, The New Republic, "The Limits of Outrage Politics," 13 June 2019 Daisy Love — the fragrance — is much more complex; in addition to the cloudberries, the floral-meets-gourmand scent features notes of petals from the daisy tree, and a dry down of driftwood and cashmere musks. — Marci Robin, Allure, "Marc Jacobs Beauty Launches Enamored Lip Gloss Inspired by the New Daisy Love Fragrance," 8 Aug. 2018 If your jaw just dropped to the floor, fear not: there's always Kilian's ready-to-buy creations, like the warm and spicy gourmand Princess (left). — Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, "17 Over-the-Top Beauty Treatments to Try Before Your Wedding Day," 13 Dec. 2018 In 1961, Queen magazine sent the noted gourmand Clement Freud — grandson of Sigmund and brother of Lucian — around London on a mission: to put the city's first-class hotel restaurants to the test. — Fox, Town & Country, "A Table for Mr. Fox," 21 Nov. 2012 Lately, though, Bantam has evolved into a compelling destination of its own; a place that offers everything any true gourmand needs, from artisanal yogurt and tasty bread to handcrafted charcuterie. — Gisela Williams, New York Times, "Five Places to Go in Bantam, Conn.," 20 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gourmand.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of gourmand

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for gourmand

Middle English gourmaunt, from Middle French gourmant

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More Definitions for gourmand

gourmand

noun
How to pronounce gourmand (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of gourmand

: a person who loves to eat and drink : a person who eats and drinks too much

See the full definition for gourmand in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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More from Merriam-Webster on gourmand

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for gourmand

Spanish Central: Translation of gourmand

Nglish: Translation of gourmand for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of gourmand for Arabic Speakers

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