Consommé
noun /ˌkɒn.sɒˈmeɪ/ — A rich, clarified broth of concentrated flavour and perfect clarity.
Definition
A clear broth made by clarifying stock, typically using egg whites and ground meat to attract and trap impurities. The result is a broth of extraordinary clarity and concentrated flavour — consommé as both substance and refinement.
Beyond the definition
Consommé is patience rewarded with clarity. Hours of simmering, then the careful clarification process, then the perfect clear surface that holds nothing but flavour. It is the distillation of everything into essence.
Origin & history
French: 'consommer' (to complete, to consume fully). From Latin 'consummare' (to sum up). The idea of a broth brought to completion — concentrated to its purest form.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The consommé arrived alone, in a small cup — dark amber, perfectly clear, intensely flavoured.
Making consommé properly takes all day and rewards you with something that tastes like the essence of beef.
Some conversations are like consommé: nothing superfluous, nothing wasted, pure flavour.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Consommé” when the meaning fits your context: A clear broth made by clarifying stock, typically using egg whites and ground meat to attract and trap impurities. The result is a broth of extraordinary clarity and concentrated flavour — consommé as both substance and refinement.
Synonyms
clear broth, clarified stock, distillation
Antonyms
stew, thick soup, cloudy broth
Related words
Consommé vs stock
A stock is a basic liquid made by simmering bones or vegetables. A consommé is a highly clarified, refined stock that has been strained to absolute purity and transparency.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Adult in Vast Empty Room
An adult sits alone in a large, empty room with a window overlooking an open landscape.
The vast, clear, and uncluttered space mirrors the extreme clarity and refined nature of a consommé, which is a broth defined by its transparency and the removal of all unnecessary impurities.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Consommé" mean?
Consommé is noun meaning: A rich, clarified broth of concentrated flavour and perfect clarity.. A clear broth made by clarifying stock, typically using egg whites and ground meat to attract and trap impurities. The result is a broth of extraordinary clarity and concentrated flavour — consommé as both substance and refinement.
Where does the word "Consommé" come from?
French: 'consommer' (to complete, to consume fully). From Latin 'consummare' (to sum up). The idea of a broth brought to completion — concentrated to its purest form.