# gourmet

/ˈɡʊɹˌmeɪ/ (US) · /ɡˈɔːmeɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gourmet
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a food expert

noun · CEFR B2

a person who enjoys high-quality food and knows a lot about it.

For teachers: a connoisseur of good food; a person with a refined palate who enjoys and understands the art of cooking and eating.

- As a true gourmet, he spent his weekends visiting the city's best restaurants.
- The magazine is written for the dedicated gourmet who appreciates the subtle differences between regional olive oils and vintage wines.

### 2. high-quality food

adjective · CEFR B2

describes food that is very high quality, expensive, or prepared with great skill.

For teachers: involving or providing high-quality or exotic ingredients and skilled preparation; often used to distinguish artisanal products from mass-produced ones.

- They sell gourmet chocolates and expensive cheeses in that small shop.
- The hotel's gourmet breakfast menu featured locally sourced ingredients and pastries made by a prize-winning chef.

Usage: usually placed before the noun it describes

## Examples

- He is a true gourmet who only eats at the best restaurants.
- The gift basket was filled with gourmet cheeses, imported chocolates, and rare vintage wines.
- While some critics dismissed the chef as a mere stylist, local gourmets praised her ability to elevate humble ingredients through precise, classical techniques.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.