Phrase guide

a la mode

adj · adv · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ˌɑləˈməʊd/
  • /ˌæləˈməʊd/

1

adj

Meaning 1

Fashionable; in the current style or fashion.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: a la mode/à la mode, all the rage, chic, sassy, cool, dapper, done, elegant, fashionable, groovy, happening, hep, hip, in, in fashion, jaunty, modish, natty, on fleek, on trend, pizazzy, spiffing, spiffy, styleworthy, stylish, smart, snazzy, tasteful, tippy, trendy, voguish, up-to-the-minute, with-it, zhoosh

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Served with ice cream.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

Examples

  • Our pudding a la mode has a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Of beef: larded and stewed with vegetables.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: cooking, food, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adv

Meaning 4

In a particular style or fashion.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adverb

Meaning 5

with ice cream on top or on the side

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • we served the apple pie a la mode

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French à la mode (“in fashion”). The US sense was coined by polyglot restaurant owner John Gieriet in Minnesota in the 1800s though later attributed to Berry Hall and Charles Watson Townsend.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: muodikas — fashionable
  • Polish: modny — fashionable
  • Spanish: a la moda — fashionable
  • Norwegian Bokmål: à la mode — Translations
  • Norwegian Bokmål: a la mode — Translations
  • Polish: à la — Translations