Hors d'oeuvre (or alternatively appetizer or starter) refer to the food served before or outside of (French: hors) the main dishes of a meal (the œuvre). The purpose of the hors d'oeuvre is to whet the appetite; if there is a long waiting period between when the guests arrive and when the meal is served (for example, during a cocktail hour), these might also serve the purpose of sustaining guests during the long wait.

Hors d'oeuvre may be served at the table, for example as a part of the sit-down meal, or they may be served before sitting at the table. These might include:

• Canapés
• Snack foods

See also

• Tea sandwich
• Entrée