# vignette

/vinˈjɛt/ (US) · /vɪnjˈɛt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vignette
Updated: 2026-09-29

## Definition

a short, graceful description or scene that gives you a clear picture of a person or place. It can also be a small drawing or a photo where the edges slowly fade away.

For teachers: a brief, evocative description, account, or episode that captures the essence of a subject. In visual contexts, refers to a small illustration or a photograph with edges that shade off into the surrounding paper.

## Examples

- She wrote a short vignette about her childhood home.
- The novel is not a single story but a series of vignettes that illustrate life in a small coastal village.
- The director chose to open the film with a series of silent vignettes, each capturing a mundane moment of urban isolation before the main plot commenced.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in literary criticism to describe short prose pieces that lack a traditional plot structure.

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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.