Vignette Definition & Meaning

American

British

Usage

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms vignette American [vin-yet] / vɪnˈyɛt /

noun

1. a decorative design or small illustration used on the title page of a book or at the beginning or end of a chapter.

2. an engraving, drawing, photograph, or the like that is shaded off gradually at the edges so as to leave no definite line at the border.

3. a decorative design representing branches, leaves, grapes, or the like, as in a manuscript.

4. any small, pleasing picture or view.

5. a small, graceful literary sketch.

verb (used with object)

vignetted, vignetting

1. Photography. to finish (a picture, photograph, etc.) in the manner of a vignette.

vignette British / vɪˈnjɛt /

noun

1. a small illustration placed at the beginning or end of a book or chapter

2. a short graceful literary essay or sketch

3. a photograph, drawing, etc, with edges that are shaded off

4. architect a carved ornamentation that has a design based upon tendrils, leaves, etc

5. any small endearing scene, view, picture, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. to finish (a photograph, picture, etc) with a fading border in the form of a vignette

2. 1. to decorate with vignettes

   2. to portray in or as in a vignette

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does vignette mean? A vignette is a small illustration or design, especially one that appears on a book’s title page or between chapters.This primary meaning of vignette has been extended in several ways, such as to refer to other small illustrations or images done in a similar style, or to brief scenes from literature or other works. Vignette can also be used as a verb, meaning to create such a thing or to do something in the style of a vignette.Example: I love these old books that have lovely vignettes at the beginning of each chapter.

Other Word Forms

• vignettist noun

Etymology

Origin of vignette

1745–55; < French: literally, little vine ( vine, -ette ); so called from vinelike decorations in early books

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His eyebrow-raising biography is dissected by way of inventive vignettes that blend performance and wildly interactive sets.

From Los Angeles Times

Erivo follows this vignette and many others with questions that engage the reader in the conversation.

From Los Angeles Times

On December 17, 2015, "Ten Years" premiered in Hong Kong and showcased five dystopian vignettes -- including one directed by Chow -- at a time when many residents feared Beijing's growing political influence in the semi-autonomous city.

From Barron's

“There are vignettes that are easily seen on YouTube of how you see a drone that’s defeated in one way, that then there’s a counter that’s already planned.”

From The Wall Street Journal

He escapes into a mystical realm that is shown in a series of short films which span the 20th century, each vignette starring him in a different guise.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• scenario
• scene
• sketch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.