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Definition of culinary

culinary

/ˈkjuː.ləˌnɛr.i/
cu · li · nar · y
Adverb:culinarily
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culinary Lexical Profile

culinary Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Of, relating to, or used in cooking or the kitchen.

Example

"After graduating from high school, he enrolled in a prestigious culinary institute to train as a professional chef."

2

Suitable for or cultivated for use in cooking or food preparation (especially of herbs, fruits, or plants, as distinguished from ornamental or medicinal varieties).

Example

"She planted a small garden filled with culinary herbs like rosemary, thyme, and basil just outside her kitchen door."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for culinary
Antonyms
View all antonyms for culinary

Word Nuance & Usage

'Culinary' is an classifying adjective used almost exclusively in attributive position (directly before a noun, as in 'culinary arts' or 'culinary herbs') rather than after a linking verb.

• Nearby Words

culex
culgoa
culinarily
culinary
cull
culler
culminate

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 17th century from Latin 'culinarius' ('pertaining to the kitchen'), derived from 'culina' ('kitchen' or 'cooking stove').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Culinary. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/culinary
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