vignette

1 of 2

noun

vi·​gnette vin-ˈyet 

vēn-

1

a

: a picture (such as an engraving or photograph) that shades off gradually into the surrounding paper

b

: the pictorial part of a postage stamp design as distinguished from the frame and lettering

2

a

: a short descriptive literary sketch

b

: a brief incident or scene (as in a play or movie)

3

: a running ornament (as of vine leaves, tendrils, and grapes) put on or just before a title page or at the beginning or end of a chapter

also : a small decorative design or picture so placed

vignettist

vin-ˈye-tist 

vēn-

noun

vignette

2 of 2

verb

vignetted; vignetting

transitive verb

1

: to finish (something, such as a photograph) like a vignette

2

: to describe briefly

vignetter noun

Did you know?

The Connection Between Vignette and Vines

Vignette comes from the Middle French noun vigne, meaning "vine." In English, the word was first used in the early 17th century for a design or illustration that ran along the blank border of a page, or one that marked the beginning or end of a chapter. Such designs got their name because they often looked like little vines. It wasn't until the late 19th century that vignette began being used for a brief literary sketch or narrative.

Synonyms

Noun

• definition
• delineation
• depiction
• description
• picture
• portrait
• portraiture
• portrayal
• rendering
• sketch

Examples of vignette in a Sentence

Noun

The play's program features a little vignette about each member of the cast.

The film is a series of vignettes about living with cancer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Starting with Mahonia Gardens, Grayson’s book is a series of chapter-long vignettes describing her visits to small-scale regenerative farming and ranching operations across America—from regenerative ranchers in New Mexico to regenerative luffa farmers in North Carolina. —Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024

The campaign was shot in Vals, an idyllic mountain village where, in a series of short vignettes, Zendaya shares personal reflections on the role of movement and wellbeing in her own life, including new forms that take her out of her comfort zone. —Anna Tingley, Variety, 15 Oct. 2024

Verb

Silverbacks albums are always a tapestry of different ideas and themes, vignettes more than a clean narrative. —Ryan Leas, SPIN, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Middle French vignete, from diminutive of vigne vine — more at vine entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

vignette

noun

vi·​gnette

vin-ˈyet,

vēn-

: a brief description in words : sketch