English Reference

Word

vanilla

Phoneticsvanil·la

US/vəˈnɪɫə/

UK/vɐnˈɪlɐ/

Definitions

01flavouring

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking

n. a substance used to give a sweet, pleasant taste to food like ice cream or cakes.

n. the extract or flavouring derived from the seed pods of the vanilla orchid.

“She added a few drops of vanilla to the cake batter for a better smell.”

“The recipe calls for authentic vanilla bean rather than synthetic essence to achieve a more complex flavour profile in the custard.”

02plain or standard

B2 · Upper Intermediate Computing Informal

adj. basic or ordinary, with no extra features or special changes.

adj. denoting a standard, basic, or unmodified version of something; often used in software or product descriptions.

“I prefer the vanilla version of the app because the new features are too confusing.”

“The developer recommended installing the vanilla software first before attempting to apply any third-party patches or visual mods.”

03conventional or unimaginative

C1 · Advanced Informal

adj. describing someone or something that is very traditional and not adventurous.

adj. conventional, traditional, or lacking in novelty; frequently used to describe lifestyle choices or artistic styles that avoid experimentation.

“Their lifestyle is quite vanilla, but they seem very happy with their routine.”

“Critics dismissed the director's latest effort as a vanilla romantic comedy that failed to challenge any genre conventions.”

04a pale colour

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. a very pale, yellowish-white colour.

n. a specific shade of off-white or pale cream, resembling the colour of natural vanilla-flavoured dairy products.

“The walls were painted a soft vanilla to make the room feel warmer.”

“The interior designer suggested a vanilla palette for the upholstery to complement the dark mahogany of the library shelves.”

Synonyms

creamoff-white

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish vainilla, a diminutive form of vaina (“pod”). "Plain" senses derive from the perceived plainness of vanilla ice cream.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Computing

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Frequent
Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/vanilla

English Reference