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noun Uncommon

martini

mah-TEE-nee

Martini (noun) means a cocktail traditionally made by stirring or shaking gin (or vodka) with vermouth, usually served in a stemmed glass with an olive or twist. Example: “He ordered a dry martini, shaken not stirred.”

noun
1
A cocktail traditionally made by stirring or shaking gin (or vodka) with vermouth, usually served in a stemmed glass with an olive or twist.
"He ordered a dry martini, shaken not stirred."
"She garnished the martini with a twist of lemon."
2
Loosely, any cocktail served in the same distinctive cone-shaped glass.
"The bar menu listed an espresso martini among its specials."

How to use martini

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA classic gin-or-vodka cocktail served in a distinctive triangular glass.

Common pairings
dry martini dirty martini espresso martini shaken, not stirred

Word forms

martinis plural, Martinis plural

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Test yourself on “martini” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He ordered a dry _____, shaken not stirred.

Etymology

The exact origin is disputed, but it likely comes from the Martini & Rossi vermouth brand or an earlier cocktail called the Martinez.

Rhymes for martini

See all rhymes for martini →

Frequently asked questions

What does “martini” mean?

The word “martini” means a cocktail traditionally made by stirring or shaking gin (or vodka) with vermouth, usually served in a stemmed glass with an olive or twist. In plain terms, a classic gin-or-vodka cocktail served in a distinctive triangular glass.

How do you pronounce “martini”?

“Martini” is pronounced mah-TEE-nee (/mɑɹˈtini/ in IPA).

How do you use “martini” in a sentence?

Here is “martini” used in a sentence: “He ordered a dry martini, shaken not stirred.”

What part of speech is “martini”?

“Martini” is a noun.

Is “martini” a common word?

“Martini” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “martini” have?

“Martini” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a cocktail traditionally made by stirring or shaking gin (or vodka) with vermouth, usually served in a stemmed glass with an olive or twist.

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