Vignette
noun /vɪnˈjet/ — A small, perfect scene that says more than a chapter.
Definition
A short evocative piece of writing, film, or other artistic work; a brief but richly described scene that captures something essential.
Beyond the definition
Some of the most powerful writing is vignette-length — a moment so precisely observed that it opens out into something much larger. The vignette trusts the reader to fill the space around it.
Origin & history
From French vignette — small vine (vigne 'vine'). Originally a decorative design of vine leaves at the beginning of chapters in old books — something small that frames something larger.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The novel opened with a vignette of the kitchen at 6am — three sentences that established everything.
Her Instagram was full of vignettes — precise, evocative, never over-explained.
The best short stories are often extended vignettes — they don't resolve, they reveal.
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 “Vignette” when the meaning fits your context: A short evocative piece of writing, film, or other artistic work; a brief but richly described scene that captures something essential.
Synonyms
scene, sketch, snapshot, cameo, portrait
Antonyms
epic, overview, summary
Related words
Vignette vs anecdote
A vignette is a short, descriptive literary sketch that captures a mood or impression. An anecdote is a brief, focused story told to illustrate a point or provide personal history.
Word in the Wild
Illustrative story: an imagined scene, not a documented event or interview.
There is a paragraph in Chekhov — less than a page — that takes place entirely in a waiting room. Nothing happens. A man sits. A dog sleeps. Light changes in the window.
It is perfect in the way a very short thing can be perfect: nothing missing, nothing wasted.
The paragraph is four hundred and twenty-three words. Scholars have counted. He struck it from the draft and then put it back. It is still there. The whole story is still there.
Questions about this word
What does "Vignette" mean?
Vignette is noun meaning: A small, perfect scene that says more than a chapter.. A short evocative piece of writing, film, or other artistic work; a brief but richly described scene that captures something essential.
Where does the word "Vignette" come from?
From French vignette — small vine (vigne 'vine'). Originally a decorative design of vine leaves at the beginning of chapters in old books — something small that frames something larger.