What does filet mean?
Filet refers to a boneless cut of meat or fish prized for its tenderness, most famously in the dish filet mignon, a small, tender portion of beef tenderloin. The word can also denote a narrow strip or an openwork, net-like fabric, as in filet lace or filet crochet, decorative crafts built on a grid mesh. In American English, 'filet' is the spelling of choice on menus and in butcher shops, while British English overwhelmingly favors 'fillet' for both culinary and general uses. The word carries connotations of refinement and quality dining, appearing most often in restaurant and gastronomic contexts. Borrowed directly from French, it retains a certain elegance in modern English, and its dual pronunciations reflect the tension between the original Gallic sound and its fully anglicized adaptation.
nounA boneless cut of meat or fish, or a narrow strip or band of material; in American English, 'filet' is the preferred spelling for culinary cuts, as in filet mignon.
- A boneless cut of meat or fish, especially beef tenderloin (as in filet mignon).
- A narrow strip or lace-like band of material, as in filet lace or filet crochet.
"The waiter recommended the filet mignon, cooked medium rare."
"She ordered a filet of sole with lemon butter."
"The heirloom tablecloth was edged with delicate filet crochet."
The plural 'filets' follows regular English pluralization; the anglicized spelling 'fillets' may appear in British sources.
"The recipe calls for two filets of beef, each about eight ounces."
Order a 'fillet' in London and a 'filet' in New York and you'll get the same delicious thing — spelled differently on each menu.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of filet
Filet comes directly from French, where it originally meant a small thread or narrow strip, ultimately derived from the Latin 'filum', meaning thread. It entered English in the early modern period, with the culinary sense of a boneless cut developing from the notion of meat stripped clean of bone. The same Latin root gives English several related words, including 'fillet' — the doublet of 'filet' — along with 'filigree' and 'profile'.
Related word forms
How filet is actually used
In American English, 'filet' is chiefly a culinary term, while British English strongly prefers 'fillet' for both food and general uses. The pronunciation varies accordingly: /fɪˈleɪ/ reflects the French origin, while /ˈfɪlɪt/ is the anglicized form common with the 'fillet' spelling.
Easily confused with filet
'Fillet' is the standard British spelling and the general English term, while 'filet' is the French-derived spelling favored in American English, especially for cuts of beef like filet mignon.