oenophile

noun

oe·​no·​phile ˈē-nə-ˌfī(-ə)l How to pronounce oenophile (audio)
: a lover or connoisseur of wine

Did you know?

"It has become quite a common proverb that in wine there is truth," wrote the 1st-century A.D. Roman scholar, Pliny the Elder. The truth about the word wine is that it goes back to Latin vinum, but it is also a distant relative of the Greek word for wine, which is oinos. Indeed, Latin borrowed from the Greek to create a combining form that means "wine," oeno-. Modern French speakers combined oeno- with -phile (Greek for "lover of") to create oenophile before we adopted it from them in the mid-1800s. Oenophiles are sure to know oenology (now more often spelled enology) as the science of wine making and oenologist (now more often enologist) for one versed in oenology.

Examples of oenophile in a Sentence

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The region is famed for its prestigious wine—Brunello di Montalcino—which is made from the Sangiovese grape and draws in oenophiles from around the world to experience its complex, elegant flavors. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2025 Lastly, oenophiles will thrive here, as Fredonia is surrounded by scenic vineyards, which are part of the Chautauqua and Lake Erie Wine Trails. Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2025 Renowned Italian wine brand Ruffino is welcoming oenophiles to stay overnight at the winery’s Poggio Casciano Estate for the first time ever. Emma Kershaw, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025 And then there are the ballooning crowds to contend with during special events: foodies and oenophiles during the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, horticultural enthusiasts during the Flower and Garden Festival. Darryn King, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oenophile

Word History

Etymology

French œnophile, from œno- (from Greek oinos wine) + -phile -phile — more at wine

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oenophile was in 1865

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Cite this Entry

“Oenophile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oenophile. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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