What does degust mean?
To degust is to taste something — typically food or wine — slowly, attentively, and with appreciation, often in order to evaluate or fully enjoy its flavours. The word belongs to a formal register and appears most commonly in culinary writing and fine-dining contexts, where tasting menus and wine flights invite diners to sample dishes deliberately rather than simply eat them. It derives from the Latin degustare, built on gustus, meaning taste, which also gives English words such as gusto, gustatory, and, by an ironic twist of semantic drift, disgust — a word whose meaning has travelled from mere tasting to revulsion. Although the verb itself is rare in everyday speech, its derivative degustation enjoys steady use on restaurant menus, particularly in British and European fine dining, making degust a useful word for anyone who wants to describe the refined pleasure of truly paying attention to what one eats and drinks.
verbTo taste something carefully and appreciatively, especially food or wine, in order to savour its flavour.
- To taste (food or drink) carefully and appreciatively, especially in order to savour or evaluate its flavour.
"The sommelier invited guests to degust each vintage slowly, noting its subtle notes of oak and cherry."
"Diners were invited to degust a flight of regional wines alongside small plates."
"She paused to degust the soup before pronouncing it the finest she had tasted that year."
Despite sounding like a complaint, "degust" is actually a compliment to the chef — it means to taste something slowly and with delight.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of degust
Degust comes from the Latin degustare, meaning to taste or take a taste of, formed from de- and gustare, itself rooted in gustus, meaning taste. The same Latin root produced English gusto, gustatory, and disgust, which originally meant to have an aversion to the taste of something. Degust entered English in the early 17th century as a learned borrowing and has remained a formal, literary term ever since.
Related word forms
How degust is actually used
Formal and somewhat rare; more often encountered in its noun derivative "degustation," particularly in the phrase "degustation menu." The verb carries a connotation of deliberate, appreciative tasting rather than casual eating.
Easily confused with degust
"Disgust" means strong dislike or revulsion, while "degust" means to taste appreciatively — near-opposites despite their shared root in the Latin gustus (taste).