palate

noun

pal·​ate ˈpa-lət 

1

: the roof of the mouth separating the mouth from the nasal cavity see hard palate, soft palate

2

a

: a usually intellectual taste or liking

too ornate for my palate

… I heard a little too much preaching … and lost my palate for it.

—George Eliot

b

: the sense of taste

serves Korean food adapted for the American palate

Examples of palate in a Sentence

The restaurant serves Korean food adapted for the American palate.

She's been working hard on a menu that will please the palates of all her guests.

Recent Examples on the Web

Eat a piece of ginger between each course to cleanse your palate for the next one. —Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026

Cleanse your palate with a piece of ginger between courses so each new flavor lands clean. —Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026

Use the ginger between courses to cleanse your palate. —Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026

Food and drink A quartet of restaurant options keeps your palate on its toes, though firmly rooted in the coastline. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin palatum

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing palate

• cleanse the palate
• cleft palate
• hard palate
• soft palate

Rhymes for palate

• alate
• ballot
• fallot
• mallet
• palette
• pallet
• shallot

Kids Definition

palate

noun

pal·​ate ˈpal-ət 

1

: the roof of the mouth that separates the mouth from the nasal cavity and is made up of a bony front part and a soft flexible back part

2

: the sense of taste

Medical Definition

palate

noun

pal·​ate ˈpal-ət 

: the roof of the mouth separating the mouth from the nasal cavity see hard palate, soft palate