What does relish mean?
Relish is a versatile word expressing both enjoyment and appetite. As a noun, it can refer to the strong pleasure or enthusiasm someone feels about an activity, as in "a relish for learning," or to a condiment made from finely chopped fruits or vegetables and served with food. As a verb, it means to enjoy something intensely or to take pleasure in its prospect: a person may "relish a challenge" or "relish the opportunity" to travel. The word often carries a positive, enthusiastic connotation and suggests more than mild approval. In culinary contexts, relish evokes flavor, variety, and appetite. Its history also reflects that combination of satisfaction and appetite, since the word ultimately developed from an idea of leaving or forsaking something, before acquiring its modern associations with enjoyment and tastiness.
A feeling of great pleasure, enjoyment, or enthusiastic approval; also, a condiment made from finely chopped fruits or vegetables.
"The children approached the new playground with relish."
To enjoy something intensely or take great pleasure in it; to eat with appetite or enjoyment.
"I relished the chance to spend an afternoon reading."
The plural is used for individual feelings or expressions of enjoyment and for different varieties of condiment.
"The meal came with several sweet relishes."
A relish can be a favorite condiment, but the word can also describe the pleasure of doing something you genuinely enjoy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does relish come from?
The word comes through French, where relier and related forms developed from Latin relinquere, meaning "to leave" or "forsake." The earlier English verb meaning "to leave, abandon" eventually shifted toward the sense of taking pleasure in something. The culinary meaning developed in the 18th century from the idea of food that is pleasing to the taste. English relatives from the same Latin root include relinquish and relic.
Related word forms
How relish is actually used
The noun is commonly used with "in" when expressing pleasure in an activity: "to relish in something" is also possible but is somewhat more formal. In culinary contexts, "relish" denotes a condiment, which may be sweet, spicy, or savory.