confit

noun

con·​fit kōn-ˈfē How to pronounce confit (audio)
kȯn-, 
kän-
1
: meat (such as goose, duck, or pork) that has been cooked and preserved in its own fat
2
: a garnish made usually from fruit or vegetables that are cooked until tender in a seasoned liquid

Examples of confit 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.
On the veggie side, diners can try some mucver (zucchini cake with feta and confit-mint labneh) and a mezze trio with hummus and red pepper-walnut dip. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026 Elegant slices of beef get tarted up with capers, arugula, garlic confit and aioli for a refreshing carpaccio. — Connie Ogle july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 Think high-country venison (or salmon depending on the season) topped with blueberry jus and rhubarb confit, velvety wild mushroom pâté, and impeccably plated dishes that blend French technique with subtle Asian influences. — Michelle Gross, Robb Report, 30 July 2026 Steak frites remain a favorite, while escargots, duck confit, and thoughtfully selected French wines transport diners well beyond Central Texas. — Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for confit

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, noun derivative from past participle of confire "to treat (food, an animal or vegetable substance) in order to preserve it," going back to Old French "to prepare (a drink), preserve (fruit) in a liquid or sugar," going back to Latin conficere "to carry out, perform, make, bring about, collect, bring to completion" — more at confect

Note: In sense 1 the French word is most likely a gallicized form of the cognate word in the Occitan of Gascony or Languedoc. See note at comfit.

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of confit was in 1951

Rhymes for confit

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Browse Nearby Words

confiserie
confit
confitent
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Confit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confit. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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