caviar
noun
cav·i·ar
ˈka-vē-ˌär 
also ˈkä-
variants
or less commonly caviare
1
: processed salted roe of large fish (such as sturgeon)
2
: something considered too delicate or lofty for mass appreciation
—usually used in the phrase caviar to the general
3
: something considered the best of its kind
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The eggs, or roe, of sturgeon are called caviar. Preserved with salt, caviar is usually eaten as an appetizer. Most true caviar is produced in Russia and Iran, from fish taken from the Caspian and Black seas. The best grade, beluga, is prepared from large black or gray eggs; fresh beluga caviar is relatively scarce and thus expensive. Lesser grades are from smaller, denser eggs. In the U.S., the roe of salmon, whitefish, lumpfish, and paddlefish is sometimes sold under the name caviar.
Examples of caviar in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The menu may be endless – limited only by the diner’s appetite – or prix fixe, with supplemental and scrumptious add-ons like sea urchin or black caviar.
—
John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Beverages are also a big deal at Ezio’s, with a wine list that encompasses more than 110 labels and a tableside martini program that offers add-ons like caviar and oysters and special martinis.
—Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
The caviar shipped overnight with freezer packs to keep it at its proper temperature.
—Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Dec. 2025
Eleven Madison Park alum chef Brian Lockwood serves up dishes like caviar-flecked cauliflower chawanmushi and an umami bomb of a Jonah crab salad infused with horseradish, miso, and melon.
—Amy Tara Koch, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2025
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John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Beverages are also a big deal at Ezio’s, with a wine list that encompasses more than 110 labels and a tableside martini program that offers add-ons like caviar and oysters and special martinis.
—Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
The caviar shipped overnight with freezer packs to keep it at its proper temperature.
—Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Dec. 2025
Eleven Madison Park alum chef Brian Lockwood serves up dishes like caviar-flecked cauliflower chawanmushi and an umami bomb of a Jonah crab salad infused with horseradish, miso, and melon.
—Amy Tara Koch, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for caviar
Cite this Entry
“Caviar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caviar. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
caviar
noun
cav·i·ar
variants
also caviare
ˈkav-ē-ˌär
also ˈkäv-
: the salted eggs of a large fish (as the sturgeon) usually served as an appetizer
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