What does "snifter" mean?
A sniff.
Snifter
/ˈsnɪftə/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A sniff.
- Grammar: snifter is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: brandy glass, brandy snifter, cognac glass, dollop.
- Useful contrasts: drinking mug, tumbler.
- Usage evidence: Tom poured Mary a snifter full of brandy.
How to use "snifter"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "snifter" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "snifter" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "snifter" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "snifter" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "snifter" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "brandy glass" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "snifter", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A sniff. Northern-England, Scotland
- 2 a globular glass with a small top; used for serving brandy wordnet
- 3 A strong or severe wind. Northern-England, Scotland, figuratively
- 4 A small, wide, pear-shaped glass used for drinking aromatic liquors such as bourbon and brandy. figuratively
"[H]e springs to another wooden vat and turns a valve, filling a snifter with a warm amber liquid. […] Bang holds the liquid up to the light, swirls it around, takes a sniff of the pungent bouquet, puts the glass to his lips—and gives a satisfied smile."
- 5 Synonym of nip (“a small amount of an alcoholic beverage, especially one equivalent to what a snifter (noun sense 2.2) might hold”) figuratively, informal
""Sit down, bo," invited Soup Face. "I guess you're a regular all right. Here, have a snifter?" and he pulled a flask from his side pocket, holding it toward The Oskaloosa Kid."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 Synonym of cocaine addict; a sniffer. US, figuratively, slang
- 7 A small amount of cocaine taken by inhaling through the nose. US, figuratively, slang
- 8 A handheld device used to detect signals from radio transmitters; a sniffer. US, figuratively, slang
Verb
- 1 To sniff; also, to snivel or snuffle. intransitive
"Brouffer. To ſnurt, or ſnifter vvith the noſe, like a horſe."
- 2 Followed by out: to speak (words) in a nasal, snuffling manner. archaic, rare, transitive
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
drinking mugtumbler
Example
"Tom poured Mary a snifter full of brandy."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "snifter"?
Common synonyms include: brandy glass, brandy snifter, cognac glass, dollop, draft, dram.
How do you use "snifter" in a sentence?
Tom poured Mary a snifter full of brandy.
How do you pronounce "snifter"?
Pronounced /ˈsnɪftə/.
Etymology
The verb is derived from Middle English snifteren, snifter, snyfter (“to sniffle”), possibly from *snift (possibly derived from a Old Norse word—compare Old Danish snifte and Swedish snyfta (“to sniffle; to sob”); probably ultimately imitative) + -er- (frequentative suffix) + -en (suffix forming the infinitive of verbs). The noun is derived from the verb.