noun Common

perry

PEHR-ee

Perry (noun) means an alcoholic drink made from fermented pear juice, similar to cider. Example: “They served chilled perry alongside the cheese course.”

noun

An alcoholic drink made from fermented pear juice, similar to cider.

"They served chilled perry alongside the cheese course."

"Perry is less well known than apple cider but has a long history in England."

How to use perry

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPear cider — a fizzy, fermented drink made from pears rather than apples.

Easily confused with

cider →

Word forms

perries plural, Perrys plural, Perries plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They served chilled _____ alongside the cheese course.

Etymology

From Old French peré, ultimately from Latin pirum, "pear."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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pear cider poiré

Rhymes for perry

berry Kerry ferry Jerry merry terry Derry Gerry cherry sherry mulberry Mayberry

See all rhymes for perry →

Frequently asked questions

What does “perry” mean?

The word “perry” means an alcoholic drink made from fermented pear juice, similar to cider. In plain terms, pear cider — a fizzy, fermented drink made from pears rather than apples.

How do you pronounce “perry”?

“Perry” is pronounced PEHR-ee (/ˈpɛɹ.i/ in IPA).

How do you use “perry” in a sentence?

Here is “perry” used in a sentence: “They served chilled perry alongside the cheese course.”

What part of speech is “perry”?

“Perry” is a noun.

Where does the word “perry” come from?

The word “perry” comes from Latin. From Old French peré, ultimately from Latin pirum, "pear.".

Is “perry” a common word?

“Perry” is a fairly common word in modern English.

What is the difference between perry and cider?

Both are fermented fruit drinks made by a similar process, but perry is made from pear juice while cider is made from apples. Perry is often lighter and sweeter than cider.

Is perry the same as pear cider?

They are very similar. Perry is the traditional name for the fermented pear drink, while 'pear cider' is a more modern term; some producers use 'pear cider' for drinks made from concentrate rather than whole pears.

Is perry alcoholic?

Yes. Perry is an alcoholic drink made from fermented pear juice, comparable in strength to cider.

Is 'perry' also a name?

Yes. Perry is separately used as an English given name and surname, but as a common noun it refers specifically to the fermented pear drink.

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