palate

noun

pal·​ate ˈpa-lət 

1

: the roof of the mouth separating the mouth from the nasal cavity see hard palate, soft palate

2

a

: a usually intellectual taste or liking

too ornate for my palate

… I heard a little too much preaching … and lost my palate for it.

—George Eliot

b

: the sense of taste

serves Korean food adapted for the American palate

Examples of palate in a Sentence

The restaurant serves Korean food adapted for the American palate.

She's been working hard on a menu that will please the palates of all her guests.

Recent Examples on the Web

From West Tampa's Cuban bakeries to Pinellas Park's Vietnamese and Thai scene to The Deuces' Southern comfort soul food, there's something for every palate. —Kathryn Varn, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025

They’re made with whole grains and real fruit and are delicious enough to satisfy a kid’s palate, and their soft-baked texture means no melting, freezing, or crumbling when shoved into a backpack in any weather. —Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan, Outside Online, 27 Jan. 2025

These wines are crisp and refreshing on the palate, with high acidity and zesty citrus notes. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2025

To our modern palate, the addition of sugar and milk might disqualify these recipes as risotto’s predecessors. —The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin palatum

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing palate

• cleanse the palate
• cleft palate
• hard palate
• soft palate

Kids Definition

palate

noun

pal·​ate ˈpal-ət 

1

: the roof of the mouth that separates the mouth from the nasal cavity and is made up of a bony front part and a soft flexible back part

2

: the sense of taste

Medical Definition

palate

noun

pal·​ate ˈpal-ət 

: the roof of the mouth separating the mouth from the nasal cavity see hard palate, soft palate