gourmet

gourmet — adjective

1. describes food or drink that is made with the finest ingredients and carefully p

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes food or drink that is made with the finest ingredients and carefully prepared so that every flavour can be fully enjoyed.

Example

The hotel serves a gourmet breakfast with freshly baked pastries each morning.

gourmet + N: breakfast, meal, chocolate, cheese

Sayaka bought gourmet chocolate from a family shop in Brussels last spring.

Common collocations
  • gourmet breakfast
  • gourmet chocolate
  • gourmet dinner
  • gourmet meal
  • gourmet cheese
Synonyms
  • fine

    broader — can refer to quality in many contexts; 'fine dining' but 'gourmet food' emphasises expert preparation

  • premium

    focuses on the highest grade of ingredients rather than preparation skill

  • artisanal

    stresses traditional, small-batch production methods rather than overall quality

Antonyms
  • basic

    simple, everyday quality with no special ingredients or preparation

  • ordinary

    standard quality, nothing exceptional about the food

Grammar Patterns

gourmet + noun (food/drink item)

Usage Note

Used before the noun it describes (attributive position). Rarely used after linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem'.

Common Mistakes

This cheese is very gourmet.
This is a gourmet cheese made in a small French village.
Gourmet is not used as a gradable adjective after 'very'; use it before the noun instead.

2. describes a restaurant, shop, kitchen, or other business that serves or sells ve

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a restaurant, shop, kitchen, or other business that serves or sells very high quality food, usually at a high price.

Example

Stephanie and Mateo celebrated their anniversary at a gourmet restaurant downtown.

gourmet + N: restaurant, shop, bakery, kitchen

The hotel's gourmet kitchen is led by a chef trained in Paris and Tokyo.

Common collocations
  • gourmet restaurant
  • gourmet kitchen
  • gourmet food shop
  • gourmet bakery
  • gourmet section
Synonyms
  • upscale

    focuses on high price and luxury atmosphere rather than food quality specifically

  • high-end

    similar in meaning but slightly more neutral in tone, common in marketing

  • luxury

    emphasises exclusivity and expense; can apply to non-food businesses

Antonyms
  • budget

    aimed at low cost rather than high quality

  • casual

    relaxed atmosphere, lower prices, simpler food

Grammar Patterns

gourmet + noun (place or business)

Usage Note

Describes the kind of establishment or service rather than a specific dish. A 'gourmet restaurant' serves high-quality food in general; the word describes the standard of the place.

Common Mistakes

She works at a gourmet.
She works at a gourmet restaurant.
Gourmet is not used alone as a noun to mean a restaurant; it must modify a noun like restaurant, shop, or bakery.

gourmet — noun

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe high quality, but they highlight different aspects. 'Gourmet' emphasises expert preparation and refined flavour — it describes food made with skill and care. 'Fine' is broader and appears in set phrases like 'fine dining' but can describe any excellent product. 'Premium' focuses on the grade of ingredients (premium beef, premium petrol) rather than the cooking skill. 'Artisanal' stresses traditional small-batch methods (artisanal bread, artisanal cheese) rather than overall quality. 'Deluxe' adds an element of luxury and comfort, often describing accommodation or service rather than food itself. A hotel might offer a 'deluxe room' with 'gourmet meals' prepared by an 'artisanal' baker using 'premium' flour.

fine ↗premium ↗artisanaldeluxe ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • gourmet food
  • gourmet section
  • gourmet experience
  • gourmet market

Etymology

Old FrenchFrenchEnglish

English borrowed 'gourmet' from French, where it originally meant a wine taster or a servant whose job was to taste wine for quality. The French word came from Old French 'grumet', meaning a young servant or assistant. Over time the meaning shifted from 'someone who tastes wine' to 'someone with highly refined taste in food and drink'. English adopted the word in the 19th century, first as a noun for such a person, and later as an adjective describing the kind of food or establishment such a person would enjoy.