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What is the difference between connoisseur and gourmet?

connoisseur | gourmet |

As nouns the difference between connoisseur and gourmet

is that connoisseur is a specialist of a given field whose opinion is valued; especially in one of the fine arts, or in a matter of taste while gourmet is a connoisseur in eating and drinking, someone who takes their food considerably more seriously than most.

As an adjective gourmet is

fine.

connoisseur

English

Alternative forms

* connaisseur

Noun

(wikipedia connoisseur) (en noun)
  • A specialist of a given field whose opinion is valued; especially in one of the fine arts, or in a matter of taste
  • * 1883 ,
    • This, when it was brought to him, he drank slowly, like a connoisseur , lingering on the taste...

    Synonyms

    * cognoscente

    gourmet

    English

    (wikipedia gourmet)

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (of food) fine
    • Gourmet coffee is just like regular coffee, only better.
    We need to go to the gourmet grocery store to get the exotic ingredients for this recipe.

    Usage notes

    Gourmet has become somewhat debased by marketing usage, and is considered by some a pretentious middlebrow term. Such users tend to prefer terms such as (artisanal) (emphasizing the craft) for fine food.

    Coordinate terms

    * (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A connoisseur in eating and drinking, someone who takes their food considerably more seriously than most.

    • Usage notes

    Gourmet emphasizes interest in quality of food and enjoyment of eating, sometimes to an obsessive degree: someone who “lives to eat rather than eating to live”. By contrast, a gourmand is someone more interested in quantity of food than quality.

    Synonyms

    * foodie

    See also

    * gourmand * haute cuisine ----