confit
/kɒnˈfiː/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A food, especially meat or fruit, that is cooked slowly and preserved in fat or sugar. In French cooking, it can also mean the method itself.
- We ordered duck confit for dinner.
- The recipe uses garlic confit.
Adinary Nuance
Confit is more specific than ‘stew’ or ‘roast’. It usually suggests a French-style cooking method, slow cooking, and a rich, preserved result. Writers choose it when the cooking process and texture matter, not just the ingredient.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- món confit
- Spanish
- confit
- Chinese
- 油封菜
- Japanese
- コンフィ
- Korean
- 콩피
Etymology
From French confit, past participle of confire, meaning “to preserve” or “to prepare.” It entered English through French cooking terms.
Common phrases
duck confitgarlic confitconfit potatoes
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is confit a common word in everyday English?
- No, it is fairly specialized. You will see it mostly in cooking, menus, and food writing.
- Is confit the same as confit duck?
- Duck confit is a dish made using the confit method. The word confit can also refer to other foods made this way.
- How do I use confit in a sentence?
- Use it as a food term: “The chef served duck confit.”
- Is confit formal or informal?
- It is neutral, but it sounds more culinary and restaurant-style than everyday speech.