tapenade

noun

ta·​pe·​nade ˌtä-pə-ˈnäd How to pronounce tapenade (audio)
: a seasoned spread made chiefly with mashed black olives, capers, and anchovies

Examples of tapenade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep jars of all-natural, vegan pesto and tapenade on hand to toss with steamed frozen veggies for a quick, easy side dish. — Cynthia Sass, Health, 15 Jan. 2026 There's an organic vegetable garden and fruit trees that provide ingredients for jams and tapenades. — Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2024 The 11-year-old’s lunches consist of cheese sandwiches with olive tapenade, cucumber sandwiches and rice with nori. — Jenna Thompson march 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026 Open daily except Mondays, the market’s stalls are piled with local produce, cheese and charcuterie, and snacks like olives and tapenade perfect for beach picnics. — Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tapenade

Word History

Etymology

French tapénade, from Occitan tapenado, from tapeno caper, ultimately from Latin capparis — more at caper entry 3

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tapenade was in 1952

Rhymes for tapenade

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Browse Nearby Words

tape measure
tapenade
tape player
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tapenade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tapenade. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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